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A   SOUTHERN    HERITAGE 


SHE   WENT  DOWN  TO  THE   VERANDA.   WHERE    SHE    FOUND    MR.    HARRELL    AND    HER 
MAMMA,  AND  SAT  FOK  AN  HOUR  GAZING  DOWN  THE  ROAD  THAT  LED  TO  THE  STABLE. 

Page  115 


A  SOUTHERN   HERITAGE 


BY 


WM.   HORACE   BROWN 

AUTHOR  OF  "THE  SLAVES  OF  FOLLY,"  ETC. 

< '  > 


NEW  YORK 

WORTHINGTON   COMPANY 

JOSEPH  J.   LITTLE,  RECEIVER 

747    BROADWAY 
I893 


COPYRIGHT,  1892,  BY 
WORTHINGTON  CO. 


Press  of  J.  J.  Little  &  Co. 
Astor  Place,  New  York 


CONTENTS. 


CHAP.  PAGE 

I.   INTERRUPTIONS  AND  REMINISCENCES          .  7 

II.   FEMININITY  AND  OTHER  DIVERSIONS         .  22 

III.  A  FAINT  SMELL  OF  POWDER     ...  41 

IV.  A  JOURNEY  AND  AN  INTRODUCTION     .         .  57 
V.   THE  IDLERS  OF  AYRESBORO      ...  74 

VI.   CONCERNING  INFATUATIONS  AND  DIVINATIONS  89 

VII.   TEARS  AT  THE  INN,  LAUGHTER  AT  THE  COTTAGE  106 

VIII.   A  REBUKE,  AN  EPISODE,  AND  AN  ACCIDENT  124 

IX.   A  PRACTICAL  CONSULTATION    .         .         .  148 

X.   THE  CHARACTERS  AND  THE  DIALOGUE       .  163 

XI.   WAYS  OF  FINANCE,  LOVE  AND  VENGEANCE  '    184 

XII.   SOCIAL  SECRETS  AND  SOCIETY  TRIUMPHS    .  212 

XIII.  A  REVELATION  AND  A  RESULT          . '       .  239 

XIV.  AN  ERA  OF  REFORM  AND  A  TURN  OF  LUCK  253 


A  SOUTHERN  HERITAGE. 


CHAPTER    I. 

INTERRUPTIONS   AND   REMINISCENCES. 

"  MY  friend,  you're  becoming  an  anchoret — stop 
dreaming  and — 

"  This  is  the  retirement  of  drudgery — not  in- 
dolence." 

It  was  Howard  Estill's  room.  Floyd  Claycourt 
had  bustled  in  unceremoniously — a  way  he  had  of 
doing  pretty  much  everything.  He  began  talking 
before  he  got  inside  the  door  and,  although  what 
he  said  was  of  trifling  consequence,  kept  busily  at 
it. 

"  What  are  you  doing — small  fiction  ? — heavy 
articles? — it's  dreaming,  all  the  same.  Ha,  ha, 
pardon  my  audacity — you  seem  so  solitary  here 
— not  enough  sunlight  in  the  room — such  floods 
of  light  outside — you  ought  to  get  out  and  bask 
in  it !' 

7 


8  A   SOUTHERN   HERITAGE. 

"  I  can't  throw  off  the  harness." 

"  Really  busy,  eh  ?  Well,  don't  want  to  put 
you  out,"  Claycourt  apologized,  "  but  I  hadn't 
seen  you  for  such  an  age,  thought  I'd  look  up 
your  hiding-place." 

"Much  work  and  steady  application  interfere 
with  sociability." 

"  That's  evident.  Bad  habit  to  fall  into.  You 
ought  to  break  it  up  at  once.  Come,  I'll  lend  you 
a  hand — ' 

"  Impossible —  I'm  not  at  liberty  to  adopt  the 
occupation  of  an  idler." 

"  But  you  can't  scribble  away  in  this  den  day 
and  night  without  end  ?  Upon  my  word,  I  believe 
you  do !  And  it's  making  you  look  paler — blood 
growing  thin.  Ought  to  take  a  tonic — or  what's 
better,  shut  your  desk,  and  come  into  the  country 
with  me.  You'll  grow  wrinkled  and  ugly  if  you 
don't— symptoms  visible  now — 

"  Hush!  Going  to  the  country  may  be  a  good 
way  to  acquire  color,  but  it's  not  a  specific  for 
anxiety." 

"  Why,  what's  upsetting  you  now  ?    Girl  in  it  ?" 

"  Not  particularly,"  Estill  replied  ;  "  perhaps 
not  one  thing  more  than  another.  But  you  know 
there  are  some  creatures  that  the  Fates  seem  to 
combine  against;  I'm  in  their  class." 

"  Now  that's  worse  nonsense  than  most  of 
mine,"  Claycourt  rejoined,  incredulously.  "  Get 
out  of  that  smoking-jacket — where  did  you  ever 


INTERRUPTIONS   AND   REMINISCENCES.          9 

get  such  an  odd  thing  ? — and  let's  go  lunch  at  the 
club.  You'll  feel  better  after  a  bottle  of  wine  ;  I 
always  do.  Heard  Worthington  asking  about  you 
yesterday — mighty  nice  fellow,  Worthy.  Too  bad 
he  has  such  wretched  taste  in  way  of  trousers — 
did  you  take  notice  what  wild  things  he  wears  ? 
I  half  suspect  that  he's  trying  to  distinguish  him- 
self." 

"  Worthy  ambition,"  remarked  Estill ;  "  should- 
n't wonder  if  he  would  become  famous  enough  to 
write  for  the  magazines.  No,  let  me  off  to-day, 
my  boy ;  I'm  not  sure  that  the  club  atmosphere 
will  agree  with  me." 

"  Hey  ?     I  don't  believe  I  understand  you." 

"  Well,  the  truth  is,  I  had  about  made  up  my 
mind  to  quit  the  club,  and  Worthington,  and  all 
that  sort." 

"  And  what  about  me  ?" 

"  I  was  thinking  of  shaking  you,  too." 

"  Confound  it,  old  chap,  what  sort  of  infernal, 
cantankerous  disorder  is  eating  into  your  vitals, 
anyway  ?"  queried  Claycourt,  half  impatient  and 
altogether  puzzled. 

"  Disappointment,"  replied  Estill  frankly.  "  I 
have  been  brought  lately  to  recognize  the  fact 
that  I  don't  belong  in  your  set.  A  poor  devil 
like  me,  without  money  or  family  or  prospects — 

"  Oh,  come,  now,  don't  take  on  in  that  melan- 
choly strain.  We'll  both  be  taken  with  a  bad 
spell,  if  you  continue." 


IO  A   SOUTHERN   HERITAGE. 

"I'm  not  whining,"  continued  Estill ;  "I'm 
simply  accepting  the  conditions.  A  fellow  that 
has  to  drudge  should  keep  to  himself.  Perhaps 
it  would  have  been  better  for  me  if  I  had  recog- 
nized that  fact  when  I  first  came  to  New  York. 
It  might  seem  less  of  a  privation  to  me  now,  if  I 
had.  But  you  see,  Claycourt,  I  like  jolly  company, 
and  good  living  and  all  that,  too  well — more  than 
I  can  afford." 

•'Hear  the  man  talk!"  exclaimed  Claycourt. 
"  Anybody  without  eyes  would  imagine  that  he 
was  a  beggar." 

"And  not  be  so  badly  deceived,  either,"  said 
Estill.  "  What  can  a  hack-writer  expect  to  have — ' 

"  But  you're  a  genius,  you  know!  You'll  strike 
it  cream-rich  some  day,  you  know  !  Everybody 
knows  about  you,  already — yes  they  do !  Don't 
I  hear  of  it!  Come,  you  can't  shake  me  on  any 
such  pretext  as  that !"  and  he  added,  mentally, — 
I'm  too  proud  of  going  around  with  such  a  bright 
and  captivating  fellow. 

"I  have  hoped,"  Estill  resumed,  "to  accumu- 
late something,  and  be  able  to  live  more  like  a 
gentleman.  I  got  a  few  thousands,  and  made  a 
venture  with  it — There  was  a  most  untimely  drop 
in  stocks  yesterday,  and — that's  gone.  I'm  not 
superstitious,  and  I  don't  believe  much  in  luck, 
or  ill-luck,  but  everything  that  I  have  attempted, 
or  worked  for,  or  devoutly  longed  for,  from  the 
time  I  joined  the  Secession  in  '61  to  the  decline 


INTERRUPTIONS   AND   REMINISCENCES.        II 

on  'Change  yesterday,  has  turned  out  wrong 
— and  hang  me  if  it  doesn't  grow  monotonous !" 

"  Such  things  do,"  Claycourt  sagely  observed, 
lighting  a  cigar  and  giving  one  to  Estill.  "  Let's 
hear  about  some  of  your  other  calamities." 

"  They're  unpleasant  to  review,"  replied  Estill, 
gloomily. 

"  Beg  pardon — didn't  mean  to  be  unfeeling  or 
inquisitive,"  said  Claycourt,  "  but  you  don't  look 
as  if  you  ever  had  any  trouble,  and  I'm  not  a  little 
surprised." 

"  No  ;  I  don't  show  that  I  was  doing  hard 
soldiering  when  I  was  yet  sixteen  ;  nor  that  I  lay 
for  a  year  sick  and  half-starved  in  a  military  prison. 
I'm  sure  I  don't  look  much  as  I  did  when  I  came 
out  of  Rock  Island.  Talk  about  calamities — our 
cause  was  lost,  my  father  had  been  killed  in  fighting 
for  it,  my  mother  had  died  of  grief  and  hardships, 
my  only  sister  was  left  an  invalid,  our  estate  confis- 
cated, or  squandered,  or  lost,  I  never  knew  exactly 
which,  and  no  one  able  to  assist  for  us  to  turn  to ! 
Do  you  wonder  that  it  is  unpleasant  to  review 
those  days  ?" 

"  You  amaze  me,  old  chap  !  But  how  did  you 
manage  to  get  on  at  all  ?"  asked  Claycourt  in  in- 
nocent wonderment ;  having  no  adequate  idea  of 
the  terrors  of  such  a  condition. 

"  Worked,  my  boy,  how  do  you  suppose  ? 
Worked — clerked  on  a  steamboat,  newspaper  re- 
porter, hack  writer — here  I  am." 


12  SOUTHERN"    HERITAGE. 

Claycourt  looked  at  him  admiringly.  Truly, 
Howard  Estill  must  be  a  remarkable  man,  to  have 
gone  through  all  that  and  still  be  a  prince  among 
gentlemen!  "  He  must  have  been  exceedingly 
well  bred,  and  have  had  splendid  advantages  be- 
fore his  hard  luck  began,"  thought  Claycourt ; 
which  was  much  wiser,  and  truer  than  many  of 
his  observations. 

Estill  had  intelligence,  energy,  and  ambition  ; 
an  attractive  person  and  engaging  manners.  Con- 
sidering all  these  great  advantages,  perhaps  Mr. 
Claycourt  is  excusable  for  still  refusing  to  com- 
prehend how  he  could  be  dissatisfied  and  de- 
spondent. After  smoking  a  moment  in  silence, 
Floyd  asked : 

"  I  have  heard  you  mention  your  invalid  sister 
before — has  she  recovered  ?" 

"No.  If  there  was  nothing  else  to  make  a 
fellow  unhappy,  that  "would.  She  is  scarcely  able 
to  walk,  and  there  is  not  much  promise  now  of  her 
ever  being  any  better.  You  see,  I  had  been  dream- 
ing of  getting  together  a  snug  little  sum,  having  a 
home  of  my  own,  and  having  her  with  me — per- 
haps some  one  else,  but  her  anyway.  As  I  said, 
there  was  a  most  untimely  depreciation  in  securi- 
ties yesterday  !  I  suppose  poor  Florence  will  have 
to  remain  with  her  aunt  indefinitely,  from  present 
indications." 

"  I  sincerely  sympathize  with  you,  Estill.  I 
know  how  aggravating  it  is  to  have  one's  plans 


INTERRUPTIONS   AND   REMINISCENCES.        13 

frustrated  so."  And  Claycourt  tried  to  look  a 
little  regretful  himself. 

"  You  do  ?"  asked  Estill.  "  Yes,  I  imagine 
that  you  have  had  a  tearful  struggle  with  the 
cruel  world." 

"  Ha,  ha — dash  it,  man,  don't  be  ironical.  Do 
you  suppose  that  any  fellow  ever  gets  through 
without  having  some  trouble?  Anyway,  I  insist 
upon  our  being  cheerful  now." 

At  this  moment  there  was  an  interruption  by 
the  intrusion  of  a  little  man  of  brusque  manners 
who  presented  his  card  to  Estili  with  an  air  of 
stupendous  importance.  It  bore  the  inscription: 


BRICE  MURCHISON, 
LAWYER. 

Unsettled  Estates   a  Specialty. 


Howard  Estill  scanned  the  bit  of  pasteboard  a 
moment,  and  then  turned  it  over  as  if  he  expected 
to  find  a  skull  and  crossbones  on  the  obverse 
side.  But  he  did  not  find  them.  There  was  only 
a  small  stain,  caused  by  contact  with  tobacco,  or 
some  other  delicacy,  in  Mr.  Murchison's  pocket. 

"  Well,"  said  Estill,  glancing  up  at  the  lawyer. 

"You  have  a  large  interest  in  an  estate  in  the 
South,  I  am  told,"  began  Lawyer  Murchison. 

"  You  have  been  told  so,  eh?  Well,  did  your 
informant  mention  how  large  the  estate  was?" 


14  A   SOUTHERN    HERITAGE. 

"  I  mean  an  interest  in  a  large  estate — a  trivial 
error  in  my  first  statement,  a  slight  carelessness. 
Yes,  a  large  estate,  to  be  sure." 

"That's  quite  reassuring,"  replied  Kstill,  in  a 
not  very  encouraging  manner. 

"  Perhaps  it  would  be  better  to  say  a  large  in- 
terest in  a  large  estate,"  continued  Murchison. 
"  That's  what  I  understand.  And  I  also  under- 
stand that  it  has  been  sequestered." 

"  Sequestered  is  a  good  word — a  right  good 
word/'  Estill  mused,  again  looking  at  the  card. 
"  Sit  down  again,  my  boy — don't  go,"  he  said  to 
Claycourt,  who  began  to  fear  that  he  might  be  in 
the  way  if  any  such  important  business  was 
brought  up.  "  There's  no  secret  about  this. 
Only  a  lawyer  hunting  up  an  old  case  to  work  on." 

"  Ahem  !  An  old  case  !  I  have  not  so  been 
informed.  Has  it  ever  been  in  the  hands  of  com- 
petent attorneys?  Has  it  ever  been  properly  in- 
vestigated ?  Has  it  ever — " 

"  It  has  never  yielded  me  a  cent,  if  that's  what 
you  are  coming  to,"  Estill  interrupted  him  to  say. 

"  Exactly,  exactly,"  exclaimed  Mr.  Murchison 
triumphantly,  as  if  he  had  already  won  an  import- 
ant suit. 

"  Do  you  expect  it  ever  will  yield  you  a  cent 
unless  you  take  proper  steps  to  recover  it  ?  That's 
the  question  I  would  respectfully  submit  to  you." 
And  Mr.  Murchison  pretended  to  smile,  the  pre- 
tence consisting  in  drawing  up  one  side  of  his 


INTERRUPTIONS   AND   REMINISCENCES.        15 

mouth — the  left  side — till  a  very  uneven-  set  of 
teeth  was  exposed. 

"  I  don't  want  to  enter  into  any  discussion  of  the 
subject,  or  employ  any  lawyer  in  the  case,"  said 
Estill  impatiently.  "  I  gave  the  whole  thing  up 
several  years  ago,  after  a  vast  deal  of  worrying 
and  fretting  about  it,  and  there's  enough  troubling 
me  now  without  dipping  into  it  again." 

"  But  suppose  you  had  a  man  who  took  all  the 
worry  and  responsibility  on  his  own  hands,  did  the 
work  himself,  and  didn't  charge  you  a  cent  till  he 
had  succeeded  in  getting  hold  of  the  property — " 

"  How  do  you  know  there  is  a  property  ?" 

"  But  there  is,  isn't  there  ?" 

"  Not  that  I  know  of.  Now  don't  question  me, 
if  you  please.  If  you  can  fiiiJ  any  tangible  assets 
belonging  to  the  estate  of  Edward  Estill,  deceased, 
formerly  of  Vicksburg,  Mississippi,  come  and  see 
me  about  it.  That's  all."  Mr.  Murchison  was 
not  quite  so  easily  disposed  of,  but  when  he  had 
gone,  Howard  smiled  incredulously. 

"  I'm  surprised  that  the  old  shark  didn't  try  to 
work  me  for  a  retainer  fee,"  he  said.  "  '  Unsettled 
estates  a  specialty.'  Don't  you  surmise  that  he 
would  make  rather  quick  settlement  of  an  estate 
that  should  come  into  his  hands  ?" 

"  Rather.  But  if  you  are  being  beaten  out  of 
your  rights,  why  dont  you  hire  a  good  lawyer?" 

"  That's  what  I  did.  It's  a  long  story,  and  too 
tedious  to  relate.  It's  a  sequel  to  what  I  have 


iC  A   SOUTHERN   HERITAGE. 

already  told  you  about  my  war  experience.  After 
the  conflict  was  ended,  I  got  back  to  Vicksburg 
— not  to  my  home  ;  that  had  been  destroyed  com- 
pletely by  Grant's  shells.  My  father  had  died  in 
the  service.  I  had  been  reported  killed,  and  my 
mother,  who  had  been  prostrated  by  grief  and 
terror,  died  during  the  siege.  I  had  only  a  sister 
left.  She  was  seven  years  old  when  I  enlisted. 
I  found  her  with  a  relative,  but  she  had  been  hurt 
during  that  terrible  ordeal,  and  she  was  a  helpless 
little  creature,  destined  for  a  life  of  misery.  Every- 
thing was  chaos.  I  inquired  about  my  father's 
affairs.  He  had  been  a  cotton  factor,  possessed 
of  a  comfortable  property.  As  near  as  I  could 
learn,  he  had  converted  it  into  money  some  time 
before  the  rebellion,  probably  foreseeing  events. 
I  found  that  his  lawyer  was  also  dead — killed  in 
battle.  It  seemed  as  if  that  had  been  the  fate  of 
almost  every  one  I  should  have  sought  for  infor- 
mation or  advice.  What  cotton  there  had  been 
was,  of  course,  confiscated  or  destroyed.  There 
was  nothing  in  any  papers  that  I  could  discover 
that  told  of  any  other  possessions.  Yet  I  felt  sure 
that  my  father  left  considerable  money.  At  last 
I  got  an  attorney  to  look  for  it.  He  was  a 
sharp  man,  and  I  believe  he  took  advantage  of 
my  youth  and  inexperience.  I  could  never  get 
satisfaction  from  him.  At  one  time  he  professed 
to  have  evidence  that  my  father  had  entrusted 
his  wealth  with  a  business  acquaintance  in  Can- 


INTERRUPTIONS   AND    REMINISCENCES.        I/ 

ada ;  and  he  actually  made  a  trip  of  investigation. 
But  nothing  came  of  it.  Then  my  lawyer  left 
Vicksburg,  and  my  friends  expressed  the  belief 
that  he  himself  had  found  the  money,  and  was 
squandering  it  for  me.  Next  I  heard  of  him  in 
New  York.  It  was  too  far  away  for  me  to  follow 
him,  then.  I  went  to  two  or  three  other  lawyers, 
in  turn,  but  they  couldn't  do  anything.  There 
were  no  fees  in  sight.  After  a  few  years  I  came 
here.  The  first  thing  I  did  was  to  look  for  my 
first  lawyer.  What  do  you  suppose  had  become 
of  him?  He  had  worked  his  way  into  State's  pri- 
son. That  was  the  end  of  Lawyer  Sticey — he's 
there  yet  for  all  I  know.  And  all  we  ever  got  out 
of  my  father's  estate  was  a  deed  to  some  land  in 
Alabama,  which  is  said  to  be  too  rocky  to  pasture 
sheep  on." 

"  A  bad  go  all  around,"  Claycourt  observed  when 
Estill  had  finished.  "  Sticey,  did  you  say  ?  Walker 
Sticey?" 

"  The  same.     Did  you  know  him  ?" 

"  Heard  of  him.  He  got  into  politics  and  did 
something  crooked.  Of  course  he  beat  you — no 
doubt  of  it.  Too  bad !  Still,  as  I  said  before, 
there's  no  use  crying  over  what's  lost." 

"  I  wonder  what  I've  been  going  all  over  it 
again  for  ?  "  remarked  Estill,  meditatively.  "  Isn't 
it  queer  that  sharps  like  that  old  fellow  keep  pick- 
ing up  things  like  this  and  nagging  people  about 
them  ?  " 


18  A   SOUTHERN   HERITAGE. 

"  Yes,"  answered  Claycourt.  "  I  suppose  he'd 
make  an  ordinary  person  believe  fairy  stories  about 
it  and  keep  touching  them  constantly  for  fees  and 
incidentals."  Which  implication  that  Mr.  Estill 
was  not  at  all  in  the  rank  of  ordinary  individuals 
made  that  gentleman  smile. 

"  But  you  have'nt  promised  yet  to  come  to  the 
country  with  me,"  Claycourt  exclaimed,  changing 
the  subject. 

"  It's  too  early  in  the  season,  and  I  haven't 
time,"  Howard  objected.  He  seemed  to  have 
fallen  into  a  reticent  mood  after  finishing  his  re- 
miniscences, and  to  be  half-regretting  that  the  sub- 
ject had  come  up.  So  he  let  Mr.  Claycourt  in- 
dulge his  harmless  weakness  in  the  way  of  garru- 
lity for  awhile  without  interrupting  him. 

"  I've  been  out  and  tried  it  for  a  week,  and  am 
going  back  again  to-morrow  or  next  day.  Splen- 
did atmosphere — lots  of  room,  pleasant  spot.  And 
girls! — my  boy  you  ought  to  see  the  girls  there! 
Not  many — perhaps  that's  what  makes  them  seem 
so  lovely.  Especially  one  or  two.  Perfectly  charm- 
ing, my  boy ! " 

"  Ye-es,"  responded  Estill,  mechanically. 

"  And  country  beauties,  too.  Bless  my  soul, 
old  fellow,  there  is  a  girl  you  should  see.  She's 
a  rare  creature — beautiful ;  pure,  natural  complex- 
ion ;  sweet  disposition  ;  accomplished — and  rich, 
too  !  Rich  in  her  own  right,  n(nv" 


INTERRUPTIONS   AND   REMINISCENCES.        19 

"  What  did  you  say  that  girl's  name  was  ?"  asked 
Estill,  starting  from  his  reverie. 

"  Ha,  ha,  ha,  that  description  catches  you,  does 
'it?  I  thought  I  could  invent  one  that  would." 

"  What  do  you  mean  ?  " 

"  Only  a  fiction — there  isn't  any  girl  just  like 
that,  you  know,  ha,  ha." 

"  I  suppose  you  are  right,"  Estill  assented,  with 
a  shade  of  disappointment ;  "  none  left." 

"  But  that  doesn't  make  any  difference.  The 
girls  at  Ayresboro  do  very  well,  and  I  want  you 
to  come  down  with  me." 

"Where — Ayresboro?  Why,  that's  where  my 
sister  lives.  I  go  there  frequently." 

"  The  deuce  you  do !  I  never  heard  of  it  till 
my  Aunt  Kirkwood  went  there  for  the  waters. 
You  know  they  have  a  mineral-water  spring  there 
that  gives  forth  a  fluid  a  little  nastier  than  any- 
thing else  discovered  yet ;  and  the  theory  is  that 
the  curative  qualities  are  in  proportion  to  their 
malodorousness.  You  know,  my  aunt  has  tried 
about  every  spring  in  the  country  from  Saratoga 
to  Arkansas,  and  she  has  to  recuperate  in  the  sum- 
mer for  the  social  season.  She's  somewhat  of  an 
invalid,  you  know." 

"  Yes,  I  have  heard  of  her." 

"  Everybody  in  town  has.  Most  remarkable 
woman,  my  aunt !  " 

"  In  what  way  ?" 

"  Why,  as  an  invalid.    That's  her  specialty.    We 


20  A   SOUTHERN    HERITAGE. 

all  thought  she  was  going  to  die  ten  years  ago. 
She's  'been  a  prominent  figure  in  society  every 
season  since,  and  heaven  knows  how  much  longer 
she  is  going  to  keep  it  up !  I've  quit  prophesy- 
ing." 

"  Don't  mean  to  intimate  that  you're  dis- 
appointed ?" 

"Oh,  no,  no,  no!  Heaven  forbid*,  as  they 
always  say  on  the  stage.  My  aunt  is  a  most  in- 
teresting woman.  We  amuse  each  other.  I 
pretend  that  I  adore  her,  and  she  pretends  that  I 
bore  her  to  death.  Confidentially,  it's  part  affec- 
tation in  both  of  us.  But  it  helps  us  get  along 
beautifully.  You  must  know  my  aunt." 

"  I  have  met  her,"  remarked  Estill. 

"  Oh,  you  have  ?   Wasn't  aware  of  it.    Where  ?" 

"  At  Saratoga,  last  summer.  And  Miss  Kirk- 
wood,  too.  Is  she  also  at  Ayresboro  now  ?  " 

"  Yes.  I'm  glad  you  know  them.  We'll  have 
a  jolly — 

"  I  don't  think  I'll  go  while  they  are  there," 
Estill  remarked.  "  I  don't  think  it  would  con- 
tribute any  to  my  peace  of  mind." 

Claycourt  looked  somewhat  mystified.  He 
half  remembered  hearing  something  about  a 
flirtation  between  his  cousin  and  Howard  Estill, 
but  had  never  heard  him  speak  of  her.  Besides, 
so  many  things  of  that  nature  came  to  his  ears — 
it  v:as  not  enough  of  a  novelty  to  remember. 
And  a  year  before  he  had  not  known  Estill  so 


INTERRUPTIONS   AND    REMINISCENCES.        21 

well.  However,  it  pleased  him  now,  if  it  had  not 
terminated  disagreeably,  as  Estill's  words  might 
imply. 

"  I  hope  there  wasn't  anything  like  a  quarrel?" 
he  said,  inquiringly. 

"  Oh,  not  in  the  least.  We  didn't  get  well 
enough  acquainted  for  that.  I  did  not  remain 
there  many  days,  and  the  evening  before  I  came 
away  I  did  not  see  her,  as  I  expected.  I  had  an 
idea  that  she  avoided  me.  Possibly  I  was  wrong, 
but  no  doubt  it  was  just  as  well." 

"  Ha,  ha,  why  didn't  you  mention  it  to  me  be- 
fore," laughed  Claycourt,  "  and  I  would  have 
taken  you  to  call.  That  was  selfish  of  you. 
Come,  we  go  to-morrow." 

Estill  still  refused,  and  Claycourt  was  about  to 
leave  in  a  disappointed  mood,  when  the  postman 
brought  a  letter.  Estill  opened  and  read  it.  "  It 
is  from  my  sister,"  he  said.  "  She  writes  that  she 
is  not  feeling  so  well,  and  wants  me  to  come.  I 
will  go  for  a  few  days," 


22  A   SOUTHERN   HERITAGE. 


CHAPTER  II. 

FEMININITY,    AND   OTHER   DIVERSIONS. 

MRS.  ORDLAW,  after  putting  the  finishing 
touches  to  a  cosy  room  which  she  had  been 
tidying  with  motherly  care,  took  off  her  apron 
and  folded  it  neatly  with  the  strings  inside. 
Good  Mrs.  Ordlaw  was  Howard  Estill's  aunt,  and 
the  room  to  which  she  had  been  giving  her  per- 
sonal attention  was  intended  for  the  reception  of 
that  gentleman.  Whenever  a  visit  from  him  was 
expected,  the  room,  which  was  always  dustless 
and  orderly,  as  were  all  the  rooms  in  Mrs.  Ord- 
law's  cheerful  dwelling,  underwent  a  special 
brightening  up  and  re-arranging.  All  the  little 
home-like  ornaments,  in  the  way  of  small 
draperies,  ribbon-bows,  cushions,  tidies,  and 
other  pieces  of  crochet-work,  looked  unusually 
fresh  and  delicate  at  such  times  ;  and  when  Mr. 
Estill  took  possession  he  would  hesitate  to  sit 
down,  or  move  around,  for  fear  he  would  "  muss 
up  "  something.  He  always  felt  like  a  burly, 
awkward  animal  in  an  exceedingly  soft  and  dainty 
nest. 

Florence  Estill  reclined  in  her  invalid-chair, 
which  had  been  moved  out  on  the  piazza ; 


FEMININITY,   AND   OTHER   DIVERSIONS.       23 

ostensibly  she  was  reading  a  novel ;  but  most  of 
the  time  her  attention  was  directed  down  the 
street  that  led  to  the  railway  station,  a  mile 
distant.  Thither  Lot,  the  colored  man-of-all- 
work,  had  gone  with  the  horse  and  road-wagon, 
to  fetch  her  brother  Howard  when  he  should 
arrive  on  the  train. 

"  It's  all  snug  and  ready,"  announced  Mrs. 
Ordlaw,  coming  out  to  assist  Florence  in  looking 
expectantly  down  the  street. 

"  I  should  like  to  go  up  and  take  a  look  at  it," 
said  Florence,  "  but  I  don't  suppose  I  dare  try, 
even  with  Ellen's  strong  help.  I  was  worse  for  a 
fortnight  afterwards  the  last  time  I  attempted 
such  a  rash  exploit." 

"  It  would  never  do,  at  all,"  replied  Mrs.  Ord- 
law. "  Besides,  I  am  sure  that  I  have  arranged 
everything  just  as  you  desired  it  should  be,  even 
to  the  pink  ribbon  on  the  rattan  chair.  Ellen  has 
just  taken  up  an  ewer  of  soft  water,  and  I  know 
the  dear  boy  will  feel  perfectly  comfortable  and 
at  home  there." 

"  I  really  hope  he  will,"  Florence  answered  with 
some  show  of  anxiety  ;  "  for  I  always  suspect 
that  he  is  uneasy  when  he  is  here,  and  continually 
looking  forward  to  the  time  when  he  shall  go 
away.  Poor  Howard  !  I  suppose  he  does  find  it 
dull  and  monotonous  with  us,  else  he  would  stay 
longer.  We  must  try  to  keep  him  a  month  at 
least,  this  time.  Aunt  Sara." 


24  A   SOUTHERN   HERITAGE. 

"  Yes,  we  must  try  very  hard  to,"  replied  the 
good  Aunt  Sara,  standing  with  a  joyous  face  be- 
fore the  invalid  girl.  She  had  just  spied  Howard 
coming,  yet  a  considerable  distance  away,  and  she 
wished  to  keep  Florence  unaware  of  it  till  he  was 
nearer.  But  her  effort  was  successful  only  for  a 
moment.  Florence  caught  the  sound  of  Lot's 
tremendous  voice,  as  he  impatiently  urged  along 
the  lazy  horse. 

"  He's  coming — I  know  he  is,"  exclaimed 
Florence.  "  I  hear  Lot's  roar  of  triumph.  Yes, 
there  they  are,  ha,  ha,  ha.  Please  help  me  a  little, 
auntie,  I  want  to  wave  my  handkerchief.  There, 
he  sees  it,  the  dear,  darling  boy  !  Oh,  how  I  wish 
I  could  run  down  to  the  gate  to  meet  him  !" 
And  a  brighter  color  and  a  greater  joy  lit  up  the 
pale,  pretty  face  of  the  helpless  girl,  than  Aunt 
Sara  had  seen  upon  it  for  many  weeks  before. 

Florence  grew  very  weak,  despite  the  excite- 
ment of  her  joy,  and  sank  back  in  her  chair. 
Howard  lifted  her  tenderly  in  his  strong  arms,  as 
if  she  had  been  an  infant,  and  carried  her  indoors. 
And  then  he  held  her,  and  stroked  her  hair,  and 
caressed  her,  while  she  told  him  over  and  over 
again  how  happy  she  was,  and  how  she  could  not 
have  endured  another  day  without  his  coming. 
It  was  always  so  when  he  came,  and  every  time 
he  felt  guilty  for  having  remained  away  so  long. 

But  at  this  meeting  with  his  helpless  sister 
Howard  Estill  had  more  regret  and  bitterness  in 


FEMININITY,   AND   OTHER   DIVERSIONS.       25 

his  heart  to  hide  than  at  any  previous  one. 
Formerly,  when  he  was  younger,  and  considered 
her  but  a  little  girl,  he  had  felt  quite  satisfied  that 
she  had  a  cheerful  home  with  their  kind  aunt,  and 
while  he  could  have  wished  to  be  with  her  more, 
it  had  not  caused  him  so  much  grief.  Now  that 
he  was  growing  older,  and  she  was  learning  to 
look  more  to  him,  he  had  become  more  thought- 
ful of  her.  He  had  for  some  time  felt  that 
instead  of  giving  his  time  to  the  pursuit  of  his 
own  pleasures  and  diversions,  it  was  his  duty  to 
devote  himself  more  to  her.  But  how  could  he 
do  it?  He  could  not  remain  at  Ayresboro,  a 
prosy,  insignificant  village,  that  had  no  need  of 
ambitious  young  men,  and  it  would  be  impossible 
for  him  to  give  her  the  kind  of  home  and  care 
that  she  deserved  in  the  city. 

This  duty  had  so  forced  itself  upon  him  that  he 
had  to  a  considerable  degree  forsaken  many  of 
his  former  customs  and  acquaintances  and  re- 
doubled his  efforts  toward  raising  himself  to  a 
more  independent  position.  At  twenty-six,  he 
thought,  a  gentleman,  even  though  cast  entirely 
upon  his  own  exertions,  should  not  lack  the 
means  to  properly  care  for  an  only  sister.  For 
a  while  things  had  gone  satisfactorily,  though  in 
a  slow  way ;  and  he  had  even  hinted  to  Florence 
that  the  time  might  soon  come  when  they  should 
be  together  every  day.  He  knew  that  of  late  she 
had  been  thinking  a  great  deal  about  it,  and  that 


26  A   SOUTHERN   HERITAGE. 

she  was  very  much  interested  in  his  success. 
What  would  he  tell  her  now?  His  recent  mis- 
fortune humiliated  him. 

But  Florence's  delight  at  his  coming  was  too 
full  to  allow  her  to  think  about  plans  and  future 
possibilities,  much  less  to  ask  about  them  right 
away.  And  after  a  little,  the  lump  went  down 
out  of  his  throat  and  he  found  it  less  difficult  to 
be  cheerful.  Aunt  Sara  came  flitting  about,  and 
Ellen,  the  maid,  bustled  in  and  out,  and  the  rattle 
of  dishes  in  the  direction  of  the  dining-roon  in- 
dicated that  tea  was  being  got  ready.  Howard 
was  soon  making  his  toilet  in  the  dainty  little 
room,  where  he  felt  constantly  in  danger  of  spoil- 
ing something,  everything  seemed  so  choice  and 
prim  ;  and  he  kept  wondering  what  ones  of  the 
decorations  Florence  had  worked  with  her  own 
feeble  hands,  probably  with  the  view  of  making 
his  surroundings  pleasing  and  comfortable. 

And  when  he  came  down,  his  little  cousin  Rilly 
had  returned  from  somewhere,  and  he  had  a  romp 
with  her,  as  well  as  with  the  big  St.  Bernard  dog, 
Bruno;  all  of  which  delighted  Florence.  So  that 
the  remainder  of  the  day  passed  without  his  so 
much  as  thinking  about  the  people  over  at  the  big 
hotel  by  the  spring. 

"  By  the  way,"  he  remarked  the  following 
morning  at  breakfast,  "  I  understand  there  are 
some  very  elegant  people  this  season  at  the 
Snowflake.  Isn't  it  picking  up?" 


FEMININITY,   AND   OTHER   DIVERSIONS.       27 

"  Oh,  very  much,"  replied  Mrs.  Ordlaw ; 
"  Ayresboro  has  tried  for  several  years  to  achieve 
reputation  as  a  summer  resort,  without  much 
success  heretofore.  But  the  Snowflake  Inn  has 
come  into  the  hands  of  a  new  proprietor,  who  has 
advertised  the  mineral  waters  very  extensively, 
refurnished  the  house,  and  it  really  seems  as  if  the 
world  was  going  to  hear  of  us,  after  all." 

"  Yes ;  what  a  peculiar  sensation  it  must  be  to 
the  town,"  replied  Howard.  And  then  regretting 
his  cynical  remark,  he  hastened  to  say — "  I  have 
a  few  friends  over  at  the  Inn,  that  is,  some 
acquaintances.  I  suppose  I  shall  have  to  look 
in  there  to-day." 

"  Oh,  how  nice  that  will  be,"  Florence  ex- 
claimed. "  You  will  enjoy  your  stay  here  so  much 
more,  and  be  willing  to  stay  longer,  with  more 
company  and  amusement  here." 

"  No,  little  sister,"  Howard  replied,  smiling 
tenderly  upon  her ;  "  I  did  not  come  for  the  com- 
pany at  the  Snowflake,  and  they  would  have  no 
influence  whatever  upon  the  length  of  my  visit. 
I  came  only  to  see  you,  for  I  knew  by  your  letter 
that  you  were  weary ;  and  I  will  stay  as  long  as 
my  duties  will  permit,  which  I  am  sorry  to  say 
will  not  be  half  as  long  as  I  wish,  company  or  no 
company. 

"  But  I  know  it  must  be  so  different  here  from 
your  busy,  exciting  life  in  the  city.  I  know  I 


28  A  SOUTHERN   HERITAGE. 

can  have  no  correct  idea  of  what  it  is  like  there ; 
but  this  must  seem  very  quiet  in  contrast." 

"  Ha,  ha,  Florence  is  making  me  out  a  martyr," 
laughed  Howard.  "  A  peculiar  martyrdom,  to 
come  away  from  the  whirl  and  noise  and  heat,  to 
this  pleasant  nook!  I'm  only  sorry  I  can't  do  all 
my  work  here." 

"At  any  rate,  you  must  have  a  nice  time  and 
get  rested.  They  are  going  to  have  hops  at  the 
Inn." 

"  Are,  eh  ?  Ha,  ha,  hops  are  such  glorious 
things  to  rest  up  on  !  One  feels  so  like  getting  up 
early  the  next  morning  and  going  vigorously  at 
work !  No,  I  refuse  to  become  enthusiastic  over 
the  prospects  of  the  society  season,  dear  aunt. 
I'd  rather  spend  my  time  here  playing  with  the 
little  girls  and  Bruno."  He  knew  this  would 
please  Florence.  He  really  liked  to  dance,  and 
enjoyed  the  gaiety  of  the  ball-room  ;  but  he 
would  not  have  allowed  his  poor  invalid  sister, 
v/ho  would  never  be  able  to  taste  of  such  pleasures, 
to  suspect  that  they,  more  than  his  love  for  her, 
had  anything  to  do  with  bringing  or  keeping  him 
there.  "  But  I  have  a  friend,  Mr.  Claycourt ;  a 
jolly  fellow,  who  is  there  with  some  relatives ;  came 
with  me  to-day.  I  will  bring  him  over,  Florence. 
I  believe  he  will  amuse  you.  Just  a  club  acquain- 
tance, but  he  comes  around  to  see  me,  and  is 
sociable.  Rather  like  him.  Like  most  fellows  of 
his  class,  takes  odd  notions  now  and  then.  Hope 


FEMININITY,    AND    OTHER   DIVERSIONS.       29 

X 

you'll  find  him  interesting.  By  the  way,  where  is 
Bessie  Medlock  ?  Is  she  as  companionable  as 
ever  ?" 

"  Dear  Bessie  grows  more  charming  all  the 
time.  I  am  sure  I  don't  know  how  I  should  live 
without  her,  now.  She  comes  almost  every  day, 
and  reads  or  sings  to  me.  Since  her  mother  died 
a  year  ago  I  think  she  gets  lonely  at  home.  And 
indeed  we  have  very  pleasant  times  together." 

Howard  was  greatly  pleased  to  hear  this.  It 
would  have  made  him  very  unhappy  to  hear 
Florence  complain  of  being  lonely  or  neglected. 
He  was  just  thinking  in  what  manner  it  would  be 
best  for  him  to  show  his  gratitude  to  Miss  Bessie 
for  her  kindness  when  that  young  lady  appeared. 
"  What  a  beauty  she  is  getting  to  be,"  thought 
Howard  ;  "  developed  wonderfully  since  last 
summer.  Nothing  artificial  about  her  either ;  I 
wonder  what  any  girl  ever  '  makes  up  '  for  ? 
Why  can't  they  understand  how  much  more 
attractive  they  are  without  it.  There's  something 
wonderfully  charming  about  this  sort  of  sweet 
simplicity.  Wonder  what  Claycourt  would  say 
if  he  saw  her?  Perhaps  it  would  be  just  as  well 
for  him  not  to  see  her." 

Mr.  Estill's  pleasing  mental  soliloquy  on  the 
unaffected  village  beauty  made  him  unaware  that 
he  was  gazing  upon  her  with  admiring  eyes;  and 
if  Bessie  had  remained  quiet  it  might  have  lasted 
much  longer.  But  seeing  that  she  became  some- 


30  A   SOUTHERN   HERITAGE. 

what  embarrassed  under  his  critical  view,  he  left 
the  two  girls  alone  and  strolled  down  to  the 
Inn. 

It  was  nearly  midday,  and  there  were  a  number 
of  loungers  upon  the  wide  balcony.  Among  them 
he  found  Claycourt.  "  You  look  luxuriously  idle," 
Estill  remarked  to  him. 

"  Yes,  that's  my  present  condition,"  was  the 
reply.  "  I  have  been  devoting  a  part  of  the 
morning  to  my  aunt,  but  as  she  is  feeling  pretty 
poorly  she  found  me  vexatious,  and  released  me. 
Poor  aunt !" 

"  Is  she  really  unable  to  be  up  ?" 

"  Only  a  part  of  the  time.  She's  just  taken  a 
turn  down  to  the  spring  with  Harrell.  Know 
Blake  Harrell?  No?  He's  a  rather  smooth 
sort  of  chap — not  bad.  There  they  come,  now. 
Let's  go  clown  that  way — she'll  remember  you, 
no  doubt." 

Estill  was  somewhat  surprised  at  the  appear- 
ance of  the  much-pitied  invalid,  who  was  so 
poorly.  She  seemed  able  to  walk  well  enough, 
though  she  carried  a  richly-ornamented  walking- 
stick.  She  looked  really  beautiful,  in  her  light 
morning  gown,  with  a  white,  fluffy  wrap  thrown 
carelessly  around  her  shoulders,  and  her  wealth  of 
blond  hair  done  up  in  a  most  attractive  fashion. 
She  had  a  constant  attendant  in  a  faithful 
English  woman,  who  watched  her  every  motion, 
and  humored  her  every  whim.  Why  she  did  it, 


FEMININITY,   AND    OTHER   DIVERSIONS.       31 

so  cheerfully  and  uncomplainingly,  can  not  be 
reasonably  accounted  for;  for  it  was  never  once 
observed  that  the  invalid  showed  a  spark  of 
gratitude.  But  there  might  have  been  some  ex- 
pression of  it  behind  the  scenes. 

The  gentleman  who  had  been  walking  with  her 
took  his  leave  as  they  approached  the  house,  and 
Mrs.  Kirkwood  sank  wearily  in  her  large,  easy 
chair  when  she  reached  the  veranda.  She  received 
Estill  very  graciously. 

"  Indeed  I  remember  you  very  well,"  she  said, 
when  he  mentioned  their  limited  acquaintance 
the  season  before  ;  "  and  I  have  often  heard  Olive 
speak  of  you.  Really,  I  think  you  must  have 
made  quite  an  impression  on  Olive's  heart — the 
silly  young  thing.  You  know  what  silly  things  all 
girls  are.  Floyd,  don't  whistle,  it  shocks  me  !  Pray 
sit  down,  Mr.  Estill.  I'm  really  glad  you  came. 
I  feel  that  I  am  in  exile  here.  But  I  must 
undergo  anything,  you  know,  that  may  benefit 
my  wretched  health — Hopson,  my  hassock — not 
that  one ;  the  large  one !  No,  the  small  one  ! — 
Don't  you  admire  the  picturesque  wilderness  of 
the  surroundings,  Mr.  Estill?  If  I  were  not  a 
confirmed  invalid  how  I  would  enjoy  a  gallop  over 
these  hills.  Do  you  ride  much?" 

"  Not  much  of  late  years.  I  have  tried  it  here 
occasionally,  but  the  horses  are  unsatisfactory." 

"  I  am   told   that   some  good  ones  have  been 


32  A  SOUTHERN  HERITAGE. 

brought  here.  Indeed,  I  feel  like  attempting  a 
ride,  as  poorly  as  I  am." 

"  It  would  never  do  in  the  world,  my  darling 
aunt.  You  would  faint  in  the  saddle,"  interrupted 
Floyd. 

"  What  nonsense  you  are  guilty  of,  Floyd !  I 
believe  you  take  a  delight  in  shocking  me  with 
your  terrible  predictions  and  suppositions!  Isn't 
that  a  cruel  way  to  treat  an  invalid,  Mr.  Estill  ? — 
Hopson,  raise  this  cushion  a  trifle." 

"  I  hope  you  find  the  waters  here  beneficial?" 
said  Howard,  interrogatively,  thinking  that  per- 
haps for  the  sake  of  harmony  it  were  better  to 
change  the  subject  from  horses  and  riding. 

"  Oh,  I  am  not  sure  that  anything  is  of  much 
benefit  to  me.  I  really  believe  that  if  I  should 
take  to  horseback-riding  in  this  delightful  atmos- 
phere it  would  do  me  a  world  of  good.  Floyd, 
what  did  Mr.  Kirkwood  do  with  Selim,  the 
beauty  that  I  used  to  ride?  Sold  him,  of  course  ! 
Thought  I  would  never  have  any  use  for  him 
again,  I  suppose.  Ha.  ha,  that's  one  of  the 
pleasant  features  of  beintj  an  invalid,  Mr.  Estill — 
those  around  you  always  counting  upon  your 
dying,  sooner  or  later.  But  Selim  was  a  noble 
animal — Kentucky  stock.  Were  you  ever  in 
Kentucky,  Mr.  Estill?" 

"  Frequently.  I  very  well  know  its  reputation 
for  horses,  and  some  other  products." 


FEMININITY,   AND   OTHER   DIVERSIONS.       33 

"  Ha,  ha,  I  know  what  you  mean  by  other  pro- 
ducts ;  Northerners  all  affect  that  sneer." 

"  But  I'm  not  a  Northerner,  except  by  adop- 
tion." 

"  Are  you  really  from  the  South  ?  I  might 
have  known  it.  It's  easy  enough  to  detect  a 
southern-bred  gentleman.  They  show  it  in  their 
manners — even  in  their  smiles." 

"  And  they  smile  frequently,"  put  in  Claycourt. 

"  Oh  Floyd,  how  you  do  rattle  !"  exclaimed 
Mrs.  Kirkwood  in  a  voice  filled  with  rebuke, 
affecting  to  be  distressed  at  her  nephew's  familiar 
joke.  "  I  don't  see  how  you  can  be  guilty  of 
such  inexhaustible  foolishness!  Don't  be  offend- 
ed, Mr.  Estill ;  the  Southerners  should  know  each 
other  better.  Am  I  from  the  South  ?  I  am 
proud  of  being  a  Georgian.  I  presume  you  have 
heard  of  the  Ravensworths  ?  I  am  a  Ravens- 
worth — one  of  the  oldest  families  in  the  State." 
And  having  hit  upon  the  topic  that  gave  her 
greatest  satisfaction  to  discuss,  Mrs.  Kirkwood 
talked  energetically.  Her  vanity  had  something 
of  State  patriotism  in  it,  and  was  not  disagreeable 
to  Howard  Estill  ;  although  he  volunteered  but 
few  comments,  fearing  to  be  led  again  into  relat- 
ing his  own  history. 

Purely  in  the  light  of  character  study,  however, 
Howard  remarked  to  himself  that  she  appeared 
to  be  one  of  the  most  artificial  women  he  had 
ever  known.  She  did  not  seem  possessed  of  a 


34  A   SOUTHERN   HERITAGE. 

single  earnest  sentiment  or  laudable  desire.  Her 
opinions  were  whims,  her  reasons  contradictions. 
He  even  doubted  if  she  were  really  a  genuine 
invalid.  What  a  contrast  to  the  invalid  he  had 
left  an  hour  before!  If  one  could  have  looked 
deep  into  his  heart,  there  would  have  been  very 
little  sympathy  found  in  it  for  Mrs.  Kirkwood. 

Yet  it  was  plain  to  Floyd  that  his  aunt  liked 
Estill.  "It  is  a  little  strange,"  he  thought,  "  for 
he  does  not  flatter  her  at  all.  And  it  must  be 
admitted  that  my  poor  aunt  likes  flattery,  judi- 
ciously administered." 

Mrs.  Kirkwood  talked  herself  weary,  although 
she  attributed  it  to  other  and  more  sinister 
causes ;  and  after  she  had  been  bundled  off 
indoors  by  Hopson,  with  her  fluffy  wraps  and 
cushions,  Floyd  breathed  a  sigh  of  relief.  "  She 
always  gets  worse  suddenly,"  he  remarked. 

"  It's  more  dramatic,"  Howard  was  on  the  point 
of  replying,  but  checked  himself  and  said,  instead, 
"  She  appears  to  be  very  weak  and  nervous." 

"  Oh,  this  was  one  of  her  good  mornings.  Your 
presence  seemed  to  revive  her.  She  takes  to 
you  kindly.  Haven't  seen  her  so  entertaining 
and  vivacious  before  for  many  a  day.  Hope  she 
won't  have  a  total  relapse  after  it."  And  while 
Floyd  talked  Howard  was  wondering  just  what 
sort  of  entertainment  she  afforded  for  those 
around  her  when  she  was  passing  through  a  period 
of  "total  relapse." 


FEMININITY,   AND   OTHER   DIVERSIONS.       35 

What  a  change  of  situation  it  was  when  Olive 
Kirkwood  joined  them !  She  returned  from  a 
ramble  a  few  minutes  after  Mrs.  Kirkwood's  re- 
tirement, and  showed  such  unmistakeable  pleasure 
at  seeing  Howard  Estill,  that  his  suspicion  about 
her  wishing  to  avoid  him  immediately  vanished. 
Her  presence  was  refreshing.  No  complaints 
about  wrongs  and  ills,  no  whimsical  commands, 
no  sarcasm,  no  artificial  pretences — so  far  as 
Estill  observed.  "  Is  it  possible,"  he  thought, 
"  for  this  charming  girl  to  be  the  daughter  of  that 
woman  !" 

Claycourt  soon  found  a  convenient  excuse  for 
absenting  himself  from  the  group,  apparently 
with  much  indifference,  but  really  with  a  well- 
defined  motive ;  and  as  soon  as  he  had  gone 
Estill  observed  that  Olive  grew  a  trifle  more 
serious  in  her  manner.  ""I  warrant  she  doesn't 
thank  Floyd  for  going,"  he  mused.  "  Wonder 
what  would  be  the  most  re-assuring  subject  to 
talk  about  ?  Ahem  !  I  am  not  sure  Miss  Kirk- 
wood,  but  this  rugged  spot  may  be  a  Saratoga  in 
embryo,"  he  remarked  after  a  moment's  hesita- 
tion. And  then  immediately  accused  himself  of 
blundering.  "  What  the  devil  did  I  say  anything 
about  Saratoga  for!"  he  grumbled  to  himself; 
"  ought  to  have  let  her  bring  that  up,  if  she 
wanted  to." 

"  Very  likely,"  answered  Olive  ;  "  it  has  springs 
and" — 


36  A   SOUTHERN   HERITAGE. 

"  Springs,"  suggested  Howard,  seeing  that  she 
was  at  some  loss  to  mention  other  points  of  re- 
semblance. "  The  parallel  seems  to  end  there, 
for  that's  about  all  either  place  possesses,  natur- 
ally. We  must  admit,  though,  that  this  spot  has 
a  little  the  best  of  it  in  the  way  of  scenery — a 
little  more  variety." 

"  But  the  waters  are  so  awfully  bitter!  I  don't 
see  how  they  can  do  any  one  any  good,"  she 
said. 

"  It  seems  to  be  a  peculiar  ordinance  that  so 
much  of  what  is  calculated  to  do  us  good  is 
bitter,"  he  remarked  sagely.  After  which  pro- 
found observation  both  remained  silent  for  a 
moment.  "  I  don't  seem  to  have  hit  just  the 
right  vein  yet,"  thought  Estill. 

"  You  did  not  remain  long  at  the  springs  last 
summer,"  Olive  said,  breaking  the  silence. 

"  No,  I  ran  up  there  just  for  a  few  days,  more 
out  of  curiosity  than  anything  else,"  he  answered. 
"  I  am  a  busy  man,  and  have  very  little  time  to 
spend  at  pleasure  resorts,"  and  added  mentally — 
"  I  suppose  it  would  have  been  more  honest  and 
manly  if  I  had  said,  '  time  or  money,'  but  I  didn't 
have  the  nerve." 

"  I  remember  that  you  told  me  you  were  going 
the  next  day,  and  I  expected  to  see  you  at  the  ball 
that  night,  but  poor  mamma  was  feeling  so 
poorly  I  did  not  dare  to  leave  her." 

"  I  was  sorry  to  have  missed  you,"  he  replied, 


FEMININITY,   AND   OTHER   DIVERSIONS.       37 

"  and  it  is  very  conscientious  of  you  to  have  re- 
membered about  it  till  now." 

It  did  not  appear  entirely  satisfactory  to  Olive 
that  he  gave  her  credit  only  for  remembering  it 
as  a  duty  ;  but  she  did  not  attempt  to  express  her 
feeling.  "  I  hope  you  will  make  a  longer  visit 
here,"  was  her  answer. 

Howard  then  told  her  about  his  sister,  and 
why  he  came.  "  I  have  not  been  here  before  since 
Christmas,  and  Florence  no  doubt  felt  that  I  was 
neglecting  her.  Perhaps  I  was,"  he  added 
thoughtfully. 

"  I  am  glad  to  hear  that  you  have  a  sister,"  Olive 
said  ;^"  I  always  feel  that  a  young  gentleman  is 
much  more  apt  to  have  right  ideas  of  woman- 
kind if  he  has  a  sister  to  influence  him." 

"  You  are  quite  a  moralist.  Yes,  I  suppose  it 
does  tend  in  some  degree  to  increase  confidence 
in  a  fellow." 

"  But  I.  am  exceedingly  sorry  to  learn  that 
yours  is  so  unfortunate.  I  should  like  so  much 
to  see  her  ...  if  she  would  only  let  me  call  upon 
her." 

This  was  something  entirely  unexpected.  He 
had  mentioned  his  sister  by  way  of  explanation, 
not  dreaming  that  Miss  Kirkwood  would  evince 
any  interest  in  her — why  should  she?  That 
would  have  implied  that  she  felt  some  interest  in< 
him,  which  was  a  somewhat  absurd  conclusion,  to 
be  sure! 


38  A   SOUTHERN   HERITAGE. 

"Why,  it  is  very  good  of  you,  Miss  Kirkwood, 
and  I  have  no  doubt  that  poor  Florence  would  be 
greatly  pleased  to  have  you  come.  But  she  is 
quite  timid,  you  know,  and  sensitive  to  the  fact 
that  she  is  at  such  a  disadvantage — " 

"  Oh,  I  am  sure  that  she  would  not  feel  so  with 
me,"  Olive  interrupted  him  to  say ;  "  I  think  we 
would  be  very  good  friends.  And  you  know  that 
poor  mamma  has  been  an  invalid  so  much  that  I 
fancy  I  can  very  readily  adopt  myself  to  their 
conditions.  I  fear  that  you  have  imagined  me 
to  be  entirely  impractical  and  incapable."  This 
was  not  very  far  from  what  Mr.  Estill's  impres- 
sions of  her  had  been,  but  he  hastened  to  revise 
them  so  that  he  could  assert  without  greatly 
violating  the  truth,  that  he  had  not  dreamed  of 
being  so  rash  and  unjust.  "  Still,  one  would  not 
naturally  go  among  the  Saratoga  set  to  seek  for  a 
young  lady  of  really  useful  qualities,"  was  his 
mental  reservation. 

At  this  paragraph  in  their  conversation  Floyd 
reappeared,  with  a  gun.  "  What  are  you  doing 
here  with  that  Winchester,"  inquired  Howard, 
who  was  pretty  well  up  in  fire-arms,  and  saw  at  a 
glance  that  it  was  a  first-class  breech-loader  of  the 
latest  invention. 

"  Yes,  I  wonder  ;  he  was  prowling  around  with 
it  this  morning,"  said  Olive.  "  I  really  believe 
that  he  is  afraid  of  Indians  up  here." 

"  I  wish  there  were  a  few  of  the  obstreperous 


FEMININITY,    AND   OTHER   DIVERSIONS.       39 

ones  from  the  frontier  parcelled  out  here,  at  a 
respectable  distance — I'd  like  to  try  this  pretty 
thing  on  them,"  said  Floyd  unfeelingly,  which 
shocked  Olive  so  that,  after  rebuking  him  for  such 
lack  of  sympathy  for  the  red  man  and  brother, 
she  went  into  the  house. 

"  You  seem  to  be  panting  for  war,"  observed 
Estill.  "Are  you  much  of  a  shot?" 

"  That's  what  I  would  like  to  find  out,"  replied 
Claycourt  ;  "  I'm  pretty  fair  at  a  target,  but  I 
haven't  had  an  opportunity  to  try  it  at  anything 
alive." 

"  There's  nothing  up  here  for  that  sort  of  gun," 
said  Howard,  "especially  at  this  season.  You 
might  start  up' a  deer  back  among  the  hills  if  it 
were  autumn." 

"  I'm  not  particular  what  sort  of  game  it  is, 
though  I  should  prefer  bear  if  I  had  my  choice. 
Biggest  thing  I've  been  able  to  see  yet  is  a  chip- 
munk." 

"  Did  you  wing  him  ?"  asked  Howard,  amused. 

"  No — I  didn't  have  my  gun,"  answered  Clay- 
court  regretfully. 

"  You  ought  to  keep  it  along  with  you,"  Howard 
observed  dryly,  and  smiled  patronizingly  as  Floyd 
exhibited  the  new  piece,  and  explained  its  pe- 
culiar mechanism  and  capabilities,  enthusing  over 
it  exactly  like  a  small  boy  with  a  new  spring-top. 

"  I'll  join  you  in  a  match  at  target-shooting  some 
day,"  Estill  suggested,  "  and  handicap  myself  by 


4O  A   SOUTHERN   HERITAGE. 

two  hundred  yards.  I  think  that  ought  to  make 
us  about  even." 

Claycourt  replied  to  this  rather  boastful  offer 
with  a  slangy  sort  of  remark,  something  to  the 
effect  that  Mr.  Estill  was  guying  himself ;  but  con- 
fidently accepted  the  challenge. 

"  You  ought  to  have  been  on  deck  with  that 
thing  ten  years  ago,"  Estill  observed  ;  "you  would 
not  have  found  such  scarce  opportunities  to  work 
it  then." 

"  But  your  chances  of  being  killed  would  have 
been  so  much  the  greater.  I'd  have  been  firing 
your  way,  you  know,"  answered  Mr.  Claycourt, 
logically. 

"  Not  as  great  as  now,  I  imagine,  judging  from 
the  way  you're  handling  the  infernal  machine," 
Estill  replied,  changing  his  position  for  about  the 
twentieth  time. 

"  There's  only  one  slug  in  it,"  said  Claycourt 
apologetically  ;  as  if  it  would  have  taken  the  whole 
magazine  full  to  have  harmed  an  old  warrior  like 
Estill. 

When  Howard  looked  out  of  his  window  that 
afternoon,  he  saw  Claycourt,  in  shooting-jacket, 
prancing  off  toward  the  woods  with  his  pet  rifle ; 
and  smiled  derisively. 


A  FAINT  SMELL  OF  POWDER.  4! 


CHAPTER    III. 
A    FAINT   SMELL   OF   POWDER. 

"  WHERE  is  Rilly  ?"  asked  Howard  Estill  of  his 
sister  Florence,  after  he  had  sat  by  her  reclining- 
chair  reading  to  her  for  some  time.  It  was  late 
in  the  afternoon  on  the  second  day  of  his  visit. 

"  She  went  with  Bessie  Medlock  to  the  glen, 
just  before  you  came  down.  Bessie  is  going  to 
do  some  sketching — she  shows  a  great  deal  of  taste 
for  it,  you  know — and  Rilly  is  going  to  gather 
ferns  and  wild  lilies." 

"  Heaven  save  us !"  exclaimed  Howard,  with 
more  emphasis  than  piety,  "  and  that  fellow  Clay- 
court  loose  with  his  weapon  of  destruction."  And 
then  seeing  Florence's  fright  at  his  remark,  he 
laughed.  "  Of  course  there's  not  one  chance  in  a 
million  of  his  doing  them  any  injury,"  he  ex- 
plained ;  "  but  it  suddenly  occurred  to  me  that  I 
saw  him  tramping. in  that  direction  an  hour  or  two 
ago,  and  he's  extremely  likely  to  be  blazing  at 
something ;  which  might  frighten  the  girls. 
That's  all." 

"  Is  he  very  prudent  with  his  gun  ?"  asked 
Florence. 

"  From  what  I  saw  of  him  I  should  say  that  his 


42  A   SOUTHERN    HERITAGE. 

awkwardness  was  only  equalled  by  his  enthu- 
siasm," replied  Howard.  "  But  don't  be  uneasy, 
my  girl.  It  would  be  a  miracle  if  lie  hit  anything 
but  a  mountain." 

Ping !  rang  out  a  sharp,  distant  report,  that 
came  from  the  direction  of  the  glen. 

"  There  it  goes,"  said  Howard,  laughing.  "  I 
know  the  peculiar  crack  of  a  rifle.  That's  Floyd. 
He  found  another  chipmunk,  perhaps.  It  would 
be  a  good  joke  if  some  one  could  extract  all 
his  cartridges  and  then  send  a  few  made-up 
Indians  after  him.  Ha,  ha,  ha,  I  warrant  he 
would  make  a  more  frightened  retreat  than  our 
enemy  did  the  first  day  at  Shilo.  I  shall  have  to 
watch  for  him,  and  see  if  he  has  any  game  when 
he  returns." 

Claycourt  had  wandered  around  and  stumbled 
over  rocks  industriously  for  a  long  time  without 
even  meeting  with  as  much  success  as  Estili  had 
expected — the  sight  of  a  chipmunk.  He  was 
somewhat  disappointed  and  tired,  and  turning  his 
steps  homeward,  when  he  determined  to  fire  his 
piece  off  once  or  twice,  if  for  no  other  purpose 
than  to  make  a  noise.  He  was  trudging  along 
the  smooth  banks  of  the  purling  mountain  brook, 
and  glancing  continually  up  among  the  trees. 
Gar,  gar,  gar!  screamed  a  blue-jay  very  saucily, 
having  discovered  some  more  peaceable  bird  hov- 
ering in  his  neighborhood.  Gar,  gar,  gar — "  get 
away  from  here  or  I'll  make  short  work  of  you." 


'  I  BEG  PARDON  A  THOUSAND  TIMES  FOR  DISTURBING  YOU  SO,"  HE  SAID,  POLITELY. 

Page  43 


A    FAINT   SMELL   OF   POWDER.  43 

"  He's  my  own  little  birdie,"  said  Floyd,  level- 
ing at  the  garrulous  and  jealous  jay ;  "  I'll  make 
short  work  of  him." 

There  was  a  flash,  and  Howard  Estill,  sitting 
reading  to  his  sister  far  away,  heard  the  report; 
but  he  did  not  hear  the  scream  of  affright  that  was 
uttered  not  twenty  paces  behind  Claycourt  where 
he  stood  aiming  his  rifle.  The  doughty  hunter 
heard  it,  though,  and  turned  quickly.  "  In  the 
name  of  Nimrod,"  he  exclaimed  to  himself,  "  could 
I  have  hit  anybody  back  there  !"  He  saw  a  young 
lady  start  from  a  clump  of  mulberry,  in  the  shade 
of  which  she  had  been  quietly  seated,  looking 
very  much  alarmed.  <;  Happy  star,"  continued 
Floyd  in  supplement  to  his  first  exclamation ; 
"  it's  my  sweet  country  beauty,  and  no  chance  for 
mistake."  Starting  quickly  in  her  direction — "  I 
beg  pardon  a  thousand  times  for  disturbing  you 
so,"  he  said  politely  (though  of  course  he  had 
only  begged  it  once) ;  "  really  I  hope  you  are  not 
badly  shocked."  He  did  not  specify  whether  he 
meant,  at  the  report  of  his  rifle  or  the  extent  of 
his  conventional  falsehood.  "  It  isn't  anything 
worse  than  a  scare,  is  it?"  he  continued  coming 
nearer. 

"No,  I  believe  not,"  answered  Bessie  Medlock  in 
embarrassment — for  it  was  she  and  Rilly  Ordlaw.- 

"  I'm  ecstatically  delighted  to  hear  it.  Wasn't 
dreaming  of  disturbing  anybody,  you  know ; 
wouldn't  had  done  it  for  empires — not  for  worlds." 


44  A   SOUTHERN    IIERITAGE- 

"  Why,  did  you  shoot  this  way  ?"  she  inquired 
anxiously,  as  if  there  might  be  a  sort  of  hold-over 
or  second-session  of  danger  yet,  if  he  had. 

"  Oh,  no,  no, — heaven  be  praised, — ha,  ha,  no, 
no,"  replied  Mr.  Claycourt  rapturously.  "  But  you 
know  I  felt  a  little  dazed  and  uncertain,  you 
know,  when  I  heard  your  voice.  In  fact,  for  a 
moment  I  hardly  knew,  you  know.  Now  pray 
don't  let  me  annoy  you  further — I'm  perfectly 
peaceable  and  harmless,  you  know.  I  see  you 
were  sketching — now  dorit  let  me  break  it  all  up 
— that  would  be  calamitous.  You  an't  afraid,  are 
you  little  girl  (addressing  himself  to  Rilly)?  Of 
course  not,  that's  right.  Now  you  will  grieve  me 
greatly  if  you  don't  go  on  again  with  your  draw- 
ing, Miss —  Ah,  excuse  me — "  and  Mr.  Clay- 
court  brought  all  his  resources  into  play  for  a 
masterly  stroke  of  audacity  ;  "  excuse  me,  I  fear  I 
am  being  too  bold.  I  have  seen  you  in  the  village 
and  happen  to  know  that  you  are  Miss  Medlock. 
Let  me  introduce  myself — Mr.  Claycourt,  Floyd 
Claycourt.  Stopping  with  relations  at  Snowflake 
Inn.  From  New  York.  Assure  you  my  family 
is  highly  respectable.  You  have  heard  of  Mrs. 
Kirkwood  and  Miss  Kirkwoodat  the  Snowflake  ?" 

"  Yes,"  answered  Bessie  timidly. 

"  My  relatives,"  resumed  Floyd  ;  "  would  be 
glad  to  have  you  know  them." 

Poor  Bessie  was  secretly  very  much  pleased  at 
this,  though  still  showing  considerable  embarrass- 


A   FAINT   SMELL   OF   POWDER.  45 

ment.  In  her  simplicity,  she  felt  that  it  was 
quite  an  honor  to  be  invited  to  know  so  important 
a  family  as  the  Kirkwoods  were  said  to  be  ; 
and  even  if  Mr.  Claycourt  did  exhibit  a  degree  of 
assurance  that  she  had  not  been  accustomed  to, 
he  did  it  in  a  very  genteel  and  agreeable  way. 

"  I  am  sure  you. are  very  kind,"  she  replied. 

"  Oh,  not  at  all.  Only  forget  that  I  have  been 
rude,  and  let  us  feel  more  acquainted.  Ah,  this 
little  girl's  name  is,  ah — did  you  mention  it  ?" 

"  Rilly  Ordlaw,"  answered  Rilly  promptly,  be- 
fore Bessie  could  speak. 

"  Shake  hands,  Rilly — I'm  a  great  friend  to  little 
girls  like  you.  Let  me  see,  Ordlaw  ?" 

"  I  am  quite  intimate  with  Mrs.  Ordlaw's  family, 
but  we  are  no  relation,"  explained  Bessie  with 
charming  simplicity. 

"  Oh,  yes,  to  be  sure.  •  I've  heard  of  the  family 
— why,  isn't  that  where  Miss  Estill  lives?  Of 
course.  Her  brother,  Howard  Estill,  and  I  are 
great  chums — came  over  from  New  York  together, 
you  see.  Why,  that  makes  us  almost  old  friends, 
doesn't  it,  Rilly.  You  know  Mr.  Estill,  Miss 
Medlock? 

"  His  poor  sister  is  my  dearest  friend,"  replied 
Bessie,  "but  as  Mr.  Estill  has  not  been  here  so 
much  I  have  never  come  to  know  him  quite  so 
well." 

"  Exactly.     Pardon  me,  would  you  mind  letting 


46  A   SOUTHERN    HERITAGE. 

me  look  at  your  drawing?  I  use  the  pencil  a 
little  myself." 

"  Do  you,  indeed  ?  Then  I  would  not  dare 
show  you  my  work  ;  I  am  very  poor  at  it  yet." 
And  Bessie  looked  more  modest  and  beautiful. 
"  I'm  afraid  we  are  keeping  you  from  your  hunt- 
ing," she  continued  suggestively. 

"  Not  at  all.  I  had  finished  and  was  going 
home,"  was  Floyd's  hurried  reply.  "  I  only 
halted  a  moment  to  fire  my  blunderbus  at  a  noisy 
blue-jay." 

"  Did  you  hit  it  ?"  inquired  Rilly  with  childish 
curiosity. 

"  Well,  yes,  I  think  I  must  have ;  I  haven't 
seen  a  symptom  of  him  since,"  answered  Floyd 
triumphantly.  "  This  is  a  most  effective  weapon, 
you  know  ;  a  magnificent  gun.  Did  you  ever 
see  one  of  these  newly-improved  machines,  Miss 
Medlock  ?  It's  really  very  interesting ;  works 
something  like  a  coffee-mill,  see  ?""  Click,  click, 
it  went,  under  Floyd's  manipulation.  "When  I 
open  it  this  way  it  throws  out  the  empty  shell, 
see?  That's  the  one  that  did  the  blue-jay." 
Click,  click.  "  I  work  it  this  way  and  that  throws 
another  in  place  from  the  magazine,  here — see  ?" 
Click,  click.  "  I  close  it  this  way,  and  there  it  is, 
ready  again,  see?" 

"  What,  is  it  loaded  now  ?"  asked  Bessie  appre- 
hensively. 

"  Six  more  slugs  in  it  yet." 


A   FAINT   SMELL   OF   POWDER.  47 

"  Oh,  Goodness !  And  you  handling  it  like 
that  ?" 

"  Pray  don't  be  afraid  of  it ;  it's  as  safe  as  a  tin 
whistle,"  said  Mr.  Claycourt  in  his  most  reassuring 
tones.  But  Rilly  looked  at  the  mysterious,  clicky 
instrument  with  a  great  deal  of  awe,  and  showed 
an  inclination  to  keep  in  the  protecting  shelter  of 
Bessie's  graceful  form. 

Floyd  Claycourt  was  happy.  Ever  since*  the 
first  day  he  came  to  Ayresboro  he  had  been  smit- 
ten with  Bessie's  beauty  and  artless  manner,  and 
had  more  than  once  exercised  his  ingenuity  to 
discover  some  plan  to  make  her  acquaintance. 
To  be  entirely  truthful,  he  had  at  first  attempted, 
in  the  usual  way,  to  open  a  flirtation  with  her, 
but  she  had  appeared  not  to  notice  or  understand 
him.  If  he  had  been  given  his  choice  he  could 
not  have  arranged  a  meeting  with  her  more  to  his 
liking  than  this.  There  was  an  air  of  uniqueness 
and  romance  about  it  that  one  was  not  permitted 
to  experience  every  day. 

So  he  chatted  away  in  very  high  spirits,  and 
exerted  himself  to  his  utmost  to  be  fascinating 
and  agreeable.  Bessie  declared  that  it  had  grown 
too  late  for  her  to  resume  her  sketching,  and  Mr. 
Claycourt  urged,  that  in  view  of  their  mutual 
friendships,  he  might  be  permitted  to  acompany 
them  homeward  ;  especially  as  he  was  going  the 
self-same  way  when  he  was  so  unfortunate  as  to 
frighten  Miss  Medlock.  He  hoped  she  had  quite 


48  A   SOUTHERN   HERITAGE. 

recovered  from  it? — which  she  had.  And  they 
gathered  up  Rilly's  stock  of  ferns  and  wild  flowers, 
which  Floyd  insisted  in  bearing  the  burden  of, 
while  they  rambled  slowly  toward  the  village.  It 
was  remarkable  what  good  friends  Floyd  and 
Rilly  became,  and  how  well  Bessie  had  recovered 
her  self-possession. 

Howard  Estill  had,  having  got  started  by  dis- 
cussing some  of  Mr.  Claycourt's  characteristics, 
told  Florence  about  the  Kirkwoods,  mother  and 
daughter ;  where  and  how  he  had  met  them,  and 
how  Miss  Olive  had  expressed  a  desire  to  come 
and  see  her ;  and  had  resumed  his  reading,  when 
they  heard  a  merry  laugh. 

"  That  is  Rilly,"  said  Florence.  "  She  and  Bes- 
sie have  had  a  long  stroll  together.  I'm  glad  they 
are  coming  back." 

Howard  leaned  over  the  railing  of  the  piazza 
and  looked  down  the  walk.  "  Well,  upon  my 
soul  !"  he  exclaimed  in  astonishment.  "  I  said  I 
would  watch  for  Claycourt's  return.  He's  bringing 
in  our  girls,  and  they  seem  to  be  very  willing  cap- 
tives. Shall  I  have  him  come  in  ?" 

"  I  should  like  very  much  to  see  him — he  must 
be  jolly.  But  I  was  not  aware  that  Bessie  kn^\v 
him — wonder  where  they  got  acquainted?"  Ko\v 
ard  was  shrewd  enough  to  guess  at  once  pretty 
close  to  the  way  it  had  come  about.  "  It's  quite 
in  the  line  of  that  fellow's  surprises,"  he  remarked, 


A   FAINT   SMELL   OF   POWDER.  49 

as  he  called  to  Floyd  to  come  in  ;  and  followed 
it  up  by  going  part  way  to  the  gate  to  meet  him. 

Then  there  was  a  very  merry  party,  after  Clay- 
court  had  been  introduced  to  Florence  ;  all  three  of 
the  new  arrivals  telling  in  turn  or  all  together  how 
their  meeting  had  occurred,  and  what  a  pleasant 
time  they  had  had  coming  home.  Perhaps  Bessie 
was  less  talkative  than  the  others,  for  some  way 
she  felt  that  Howard  and  Florence  might  not  fully 
comprehend  just  how  natural  and  unavoidable  it 
all  had  been.  But  Mr.  Claycourt  kept  up  such  a 
fire  of  talk,  and  jokes,  and  marvellous  stories  about 
the  game  he  had  encountered  and  come  near  bag- 
ging, that  there  wasn't  much  chance  for  any  awk- 
wardness or  embarrassment. 

"  You  are  an  audacious  wretch,"  Howard  said 
to  him  the  next  morning  when  he  encountered 
him  at  the  Inn.  "  Isn't  it  rather  a  new  scheme  to 
paralyze  a  young  lady  with  fear  in  order  to  get 
acquainted  with  her?" 

"  Oh,  come,  now,  don't  be  so  incredulous,"  Clay- 
court  retorted  ;  "  there  wasn't  a  suspicion  of  pre- 
meditation about  it.  What,  would  you  have  had 
me  run  away  and  leave  the  gentle  things  scream-, 
ing  ?  Allah  forbid  !  Besides,  old  chap,  it's  all 
right.  You  needn't  be  uneasy  about  my  actions 
toward  Miss  Bessie.  What  fellow  could  think  of 
imposing  on  any  one  so  perfectly  innocent  and 
unaffected  and  beautiful  and  altogether  love — " 

Estill   interrupted    his    extravagant    panegyric 


50  A   SOUTHERN   HERITAGE. 

with  a  laugh,  else  there  is  no  telling  how  much 
longer  it  might  have  been.  "  Seems  to  me  I've 
heard  you  in  that  sort  of  raving  before.  Always 
the  newest  conquest,  eh  ?" 

"  Never  anything  like  this  before,"  protested 
Claycourt. 

"  Tush  !  It  was  the  same  sort  of  talk  about 
somebody,  at  my  room  in  town,  a  few  days  ago." 

"  This  is  the  same  fair  creature.  I  had  seen 
her  when  I  first  came  down.  Hadn't  I  a  right  to 
be  enthusiastic?" 

"  Well, "said  Howard,  after  pausing  awhile,  "  is 
this  the  end  of  it  ?" 

"  I  hope  not.     It's  only  the  beginning." 

"  What  sort  of  an  ending  do  you  predict  there 
will  be  ?" 

"  Oh,  that's  going  too  much  into  the  future, 
you  know.  How  can  I  guess  at  that  ?" 

"  Have  you  thought  what  effect  your  acquaint- 
ance with  that  young  girl  might  have  upon  her 
happiness?"  asked  Estill,  rather  seriously. 

"  Man  alive,  hear  him  talk  !"  exclaimed  Clay- 
court.  "  I  am  not  going  in  to  break  her  tender 
heart." 

"  Didn't  suppose  you  were.  But  wouldn't  it  be 
too  bad  if  you  only  half  did  it,  even  without  in- 
tending to  ?  She  is  of  an  ardent  temperament, 
and  inexperienced.  To  be  frank  with  you,  as  a 
friend  ought  to  be,  I  don't  think  you  ought  to 
run  the  risk  of  making  her  unhappy.  You  know 


A   FAINT   SMELL   OF   POWDER.  51 

you  won't  think  of  her  again  after  you  get  away 
from  here." 

"Won't,  eh?  Think  I'm  just  fooling,  eh? 
Come  now,  how  could  a  fellow  be  trifling  with  a 
girl  like  that  !  Don't  worry,  old  chap.  You 
spoke  about  shaking  me  the  other  day.  Do  it 
when  you  think  I  haven't  acted  right  with  her  ! 
Isn't  that  enough  ?" 

"  Yes." 

"  And  now  look  here  :  girls  and  other  nonsense 
out  of  the  way,  I've  got  a  scheme  for  you.  I 
have  had  a  thought,  or  an  idea,  or  an  inspiration 
—something  of  that  sort.  You  needn't  look  in- 
credulous. It  came  to  me  when  I  woke  up  this 
morning.  Be  quiet  and  listen  :  You  were  feel- 
ing rather  broken  up  the  other  day  about  things 
going  wrong  in  a  financial  way.  Now,  it  occurred 
to  me  you  ought  to  be  in  something  bigger. 
There's  my  uncle,  Watson  Kirkwood — why  can't 
you  go  in  with  him?  He  could  make  room  for 
you,  and  put  you  in  the  way  of  getting  rich.  You 
know  him  ?" 

"  Not  well.     Broker,  isn't  he  ?" 

"  Broker,  banker,  promoter,  bonds,  mortgages 
— everything  like  that.  Great  man,  my  Uncle 
Kirkwood  is — born  financier.  He's  almost  as  re- 
markable in  his  way  as  my  aunt  is  in  her  way. 
He's  promoted  more  enterprises  than  any  other 
man  in  the  country.  Just  the  man  for  you  to  get 
in  with — you  would  be  valuable  to  each  other. 


52  A   SOUTHERN   HERITAGE. 

He  has  more  business  than  three  men  ought  to 
look  after.  Don't  you  see  ?" 

"  Why  don't  you  go  in  with  him  ?"  asked 
Estill. 

"  Me?  What's  the  use?  I  an't  hustling  much 
— my  prospects  are  good  enough  now.  Uncle's 
coming  down  here  Saturday,  and  I'd  like  to  make  it 
up  between  you  two." 

"  You  are  exceedingly  kind,  old  fellow,  and  I 
appreciate  it.  But  don't  you  think  it  would  be 
better  to  let  us  get  acquainted,  and  study  each 
other  up  a  bit,  before  broaching  the  subject  to 
him?" 

Claycourt  thought  it  might  do  well  enough,  but 
that  there  was  not  much  use  wasting  time. 
"  Uncle  Wat  is  sharp  and  quick,  and  can  tell  in- 
stanter  whether  or  not  he  wants  to  have  anything 
to  do  with  a  fellow.  But  just  as  you  like,  of 
course." 

Howard  admitted  that  it  was  quite  an  idea — 
one  to  do  credit  to  Claycourt — if  it  were  at  all 
possible  to  be  carried  out.  It  might  be  the 
making  of  his  fortune.  Especially  if  Mr.  Kirk- 
wood  was  such  a  man  as  Claycourt  had  described 
him.  And  then  came  other  ideas  into  his  head — 
thoughts  about  Miss  Kirkwood,  and  his  sister, 
and  Mrs.  Kirkwood.  What  if  he  should  become 
identified  in  a  business  way  with  Mr.  Kirkwood. 
It  would  have  been  quite  easy  for  him  to  go  on 
to  building  castles  in  the  air  ;  but  he  was  too 


A   FAINT   SMELL   OF   POWDER.  53 

practical  for  that,  and  soon  dismissed  the  subject 
from  his  mind  as  being  yet  too  intangible  to 
dwell  upon. 

While  he  was  loitering  in  the  corridor  of  the 
Inn  he  met  a  tall  man,  with  an  aquiline  nose,  a 
smoothly  shaven  face,  and  wearing  a  slouch  hat. 
The  tall  man  looked  down  upon  him  and  exclaimed 
in  surprise — "What,  Howard  Estill?  God  bless 
you,  my  lad!  I'm  glad  to  see  you — right  glad  to 
see  you." 

"  My  old  Major  Derryberry !"  Howard  re- 
sponded, as  they  shook  hands  cordially  ;  "  this  is 
a  pleasure.  We  haven't  met  before  since  a  year 
after  the  war,  on  that  Mississippi  steamboat. 
Where  have  you  been,  though  ?" 

"  Various  places,"  replied  the  tall  major,  as 
they  seated  themselves  for  a  talk. 

"  And  what  are  you  in  now  ?" 

"  Running  this  hotel.  Took  it  last  spring. 
Going  to  make  a  world-wide  reputation  for  the 
place,  too."  And  he  went  over  again  for  Howard 
as  he  had  done  a  thousand  times  to  others,  the 
great  advantages  of  the  place,  the  remarkable 
properties  of  the  water,  and  the  prospects  of  their 
wonderful  success  in  the  future.  Howard  was 
very  glad  to  greet  his  old  major,  for  he  always 
liked  him  ;  he  had  a  fatherly  manner,  great  self- 
confidence  and  a  healthy  flow  of  good  spirits. 

"  I  went  to  Brazil  after  our  cause  failed,"  he 
said,  "  feeling  that  I  didn't  want  to  stay  where  I 


54  A  SOUTHERN   HERITAGE. 

had  been  getting  so  much  the  worst  of  it.  But  a 
couple  of  years  there  was  enough  for  me.  This 
seemed  to  be  a  pretty  good  land  after  all,  when  I 
got  back  to  it.  Bless  me  if  I  wasn't  half  glad  to 
see  the  old  stars  and  stripes  again.  Been  keeping 
hotel  since.  Now  tell  your  story." 

Howard  ran  over  his  experiences  in  a  sketchy 
fashion.  "  So  your  lawyer,  Sticey,  never  suc- 
ceeded in  getting  hold  of  any  funds  belonging  to 
your  estate?  That's  queer.  Your  father  left 
means,  I  know.  Oh,  I'm  sure  of  it.  It  has  missed 
connection  somewhere.  I  wouldn't  give  it  up 
yet." 

But  when  Howard  told  the  major  of  Sticey 's 
actions  it  so  exasperated  him  that  he  pronounced 
a  soldier-like  curse  upon  the  renegade,  and  took 
a  chew  of  tobacco. 

"  I  was  down  in  West  Virginia  a  couple  of  years 
ago  looking  at  some  coal  land,  and  at  a  little 
station  among  the  hills  I  heard  some  one  say — 
"  An't  dat  you,  Mas'  Der'burry?"  I  looked 
around  and  saw  a  nigger — that  one  that  stuck  to 
your  father  after  the  emancipation  proclamation." 

"Not  Zeb?" 

"  That's  the  coon,  Zeb.  '  What  are  you  doing 
up  here  Zeb,'  says  I.  '  Fahmin,  sah,' — and  that's 
what  he  was.  I  asked  him  if  he  knew  where  you 
were,  but  he  didn't ;  and  I  had  not  run  against 
anybody  lately  who  did.  Yes,  it  was  Zeb.  Queer 
how  our  niggers  scattered  about,  isn't  it  ?" 


A   FAINT   SMELL   OF   POWDER.  55 

"  But  why  do  you  think  my  father  left  property 
or  money  in  such  way  or  place  that  it  could  not 
be  readily  found?  It  would  have  been  easy 
enough  to  have  left  vouchers,  a  record — " 

"  And  no  doubt  he  did,"  broke  in  the  major  ; 
"  not  the  least  bit  of  doubt  of  it.  But  they  fell  into 
the  wrong  man's  hands.  I  don't  reckon  you  will 
ever  get  any  good  from  it  now,  from  what  you  say 
about  Sticey.  Anyway,  you  are  no  more  un- 
fortunate than  the  rest  of  us — not  so  much,  for 
it's  damned  unpleasant  to  have  to  start  all  over 
again  at  middle  time  of  life." 

"  To  be  sure.  With  me  it  was  only  losing 
something  I  never  had,  but  was  entitled  to.  1 
should  like  to  see  that  negro  Zeb.  I  never 
thought  of  it  before,  but  he  was  with  my  father 
till  a  short  time  before  his  death,  I  believe.  It's 
possible  he  might  remember  something  that 
would  give  me  a  clew — he  was  a  pretty  wide- 
awake boy.  I  know  that  he  was  with  him  awhile 
when  he  lay  wounded.  What  station  was  it  that 
you  saw  him  at?"  Howard's  talk  with  the  major 
had  set  him  to  searching  for  possibilities  again, 
though  he  had  often  declared  that  he  would 
trouble  his  mind  no  further  with  the  stubborn 
case. 

Major  Derryberry  told  him  where  it  was  and 
how  to  get  to  it.  Then  invited  him  in  to  partake 
of  a  mint-julep,  and  would  have  had  him  to  dine  if 
Estill  had  not  politely  declined. 


56  A   SOUTHERN   HERITAGE. 

"  I  am  going  to  leave  you  to-morrow  for  a  little 
business  trip  over  into  West  Virginia,"  he  said  to 
Florence  when  he  returned  from  the  Inn.  "  Only 
for  a  day — that  is,  if  I  can  get  there  and  back 
again  in  that  time.  Let  us  look  it  up."  And 
he  got  out  a  map,  and  time-schedule,  and  they 
soon  had  their  heads  together  trying  to  settle  the 
question. 

"  Here  it  is — Rose  Valley,"  he  said,  pointing 
out  the  place  ;  "  off  here,  on  a  branch  road.  Named 
after  the  wild  roses  in  it,  perhaps.  Let's  see, 
trains  going  west — number  three,  at  4.45  in  the 
morning.  Beastly  hour  to  get  up,  I  say.  And 
I  can't  get  back  till  10  at  night.  Anyway,  it's  all 
in  a  day,  and  I'll  stay  two  days  longer,  my 
deary,  to  make  it  up.  Isn't  that  fair?" 


A  JOURNEY  AND  AN   INTRODUCTION.        $? 


CHAPTER    IV. 

A   JOURNEY   AND   AN   INTRODUCTION. 

"  I  KNOW  this  seems  very  much  like  a  wild-goose 
chase,"  Howard  soliloquized,  as  he  stood  sleepily 
on  the  platform  the  next  morning,  waiting  for 
the  early  west-bound  train  to  come  along.  "  It's 
not  one  chance  in  forty  that  Zeb  can  give  me  any 
information  of  value ;  but  as  long  as  there's  any 
chance  in  it  at  all,  I  suppose  it's  worth  trying  for. 
He  might  remember  what  business  my  father 
transacted  last,  or  who  it  was  with,  or  if  he  carried 
many  papers  with  him.  Some  'niggers'  took 
considerable  observation  about  such  things.  I 
think  Zeb  was  of  that  sort." 

This  was  the  substance  of  his  meditation  during 
the  whole  of  his  journey.  It  was  a  tedious  ride 
for  something  more  than  a  hundred  miles  on  the 
"  main  line,"  and  then  a  change  to  a  "  branch  " 
that  ran  somewhere  into  the  coal  and  iron  regions. 
The  coaches  of  this  train  were  shabby,  the  track 
rough  and  badly  ballasted,  and  the  speed  at- 
tempted was  not  of  a  dizzy  rate. 

After  a  couple  of  hours  of  this  depressing  travel 
Estill  arrived  at  Rose  Valley.  He  looked  around 
with  wonder  and  disgust  when  he  alighted  at  the 


58  A   SOUTHERN    HERITAGE. 

"  depot."  The  landscape  was  wild  without  having 
any  of  the  charm  of  a  wilderness.  There  seemed 
to  be  neither  forest  nor  clearing,  mountains  nor 
valley,  but  a  sort  of  unwilling,  disagreeable  com- 
promise between  them  all.  There  was  neither  the 
air  of  tranquillity  peculiar  to  wooded  hills  and 
shady  glens,  nor  the  friendly  gleams  of  civilization. 
There  was  neither  the  sight  nor  the  presence  of 
roses.  The  "  depot "  was  of  the  simplest  kind. 
It  consisted  of  a  battered  freight-car,  deposed 
from  its  trucks,  and  resting  upon  unsteady-look- 
ing spiles.  It  was  painted  a  most  saddening 
reddish-brown  color,  and  was  in  the  keeping  of  an 
"agent"  who  was  humpbacked  and  cadaverous. 
He  had  a  hollow  cough,  and  from  his  appearance 
might  have  been  a  life-long  victim  to  rheumatism 
and  malaria. 

There  were  a  few  loafers,  and  a  dozen  miserable 
houses  scattered  around  ;  and  across  the  track,  a 
short  distance  up  the  hill,  stood  the  settlement 
"  store."  This  emporium  of  commerce  was  not 
imposing  to  the  view.  It  was  a  small  frame  build- 
ing, weather-stained,  in  bad  repair,  and  above  the 
door  there  was  a  faded  and  crooked  sign  which 
bore  the  paradoxical  inscription — "  Prosperty 
Jelks,  Cheep  Store." 

Howard  made  an  inquiry  of  the  station  agent 
about  his  "  nigger,"  and  after  that  functionary 
had  finished  a  spell  of  coughing,  he  solemnly 
professed  his  ignorance  of  any  such  person  ;  and 


A   JOURNEY   AND   AN   INTRODUCTION.         59 

suggested  that  Mr.  Estill  had  better  sound  the 
proprietor  of  the  store. 

Mr.  Jelks  was  discovered  sitting  outside  of  his 
trade-palace  upon  an  empty  oil-barrel,  exposing 
himself  to  the  enervating  shine  of  the  bright  June 
sun.  He  wasn't  the  least  bit  flurried  or  embar- 
rassed when  Howard  approached.  He  looked  in- 
stead so  calm  and  imperturbable  that  he  reminded 
Estill  of  some  absurd  old  monk  of  the  Stylite 
order  lost  in  fanatical  meditations  on  his  solitary 
tower. 

"  Business  rather  slack  to-day,  eh  ?"  asked 
.Howard  lightly. 

"  'Bout'n  average,"  replied  Mr.  Jelks,  with  a 
liberal  expectoration  of  tobacco  juice.  "  'Tan't 
mor'n  I  kin  take  keer  of." 

"  I  didn't  imagine  you  needed  any  help,"  said 
Howard.  "  Is  it  like  this  the  year  round  ?" 

"  When  'tan't  no  wus,"  grunted  Mr.  Jelks. 

"  You  seem  to  be  pretty  well  satisfied  with  it, 
anyway.  Judging  from  your  sign,  up  there,  a 
stranger  might  imagine  that  you  were  in  the 
midst  of  an  era  of  unusual  success.", 

"  That  'ere  sign  is  out  o'  date  an'  misleadin'," 
explained  Mr.  Jelks  regretfully  ;  "  I  put  that  up 
at  the  start,  reckonin'  on  how  I'd  been  prosperous 
afore.  I  kep'  tavern  in  Ohiah  afore  I  kem  here." 

"  Did  you  make  money  there  ?" 

"  Did  I  ?     Well  my  young  feller,  I  fetched  thir- 


6O  A   SOUTHERN    HERITAGE. 

teen  hundred  dollars,  clean  cash,  not  countin'  a 
cow'n  two  dogs,  when  I  kem  here." 

"  How  long  did  you  keep  tavern  in  Ohio?" 

"  Fifteen  year." 

"You  must  have  struck  a  soft,  remunerative 
snap  there,"  remarked  Howard  seriously.  "  And 
you've  been  somewhat  disappointed  here  ?" 

"  'Tan't  jest  what  I  looked  fer,  but  I've  been 
expectin'  right  along  that  business  'd  pick  up.'' 
At  this  point  the  conversation  was  interrupted  by 
a  woman  who  came  and  bought  a  paper  of  pins  ; 
followed  by  a  darky  who  invested  in  a  five-cent 
cut  of  Virginia  twist,  and  tried  to  get  it  "  charged," 
but  could  not. 

This  customer  was  no  sooner  out  of  the  way 
than  there  came  ambling  lazily  along  a  ragged, 
crooked-formed  man,  with  a  loose  bundle  of  half 
a  dozen  well-grown  rattlesnakes — dead,  to  be  sure 
— slung  carelessly  over  his  shoulder.  He  was  a 
forlorn,  lank,  dowdy  man,  and,  like  the  lugubrious 
station-agent,  seemed  to  have  a  broken  constitu- 
tion. He  dropped  his  burden  on  the  steps,  and 
opened  negotiations  with  Mr.  Jelks.  The  mer- 
chant looked  them  over  critically,  counted  their 
rattles,  and  finally  remarked  that  they  "  seemed 
to  be  putty  fat  ones." 

"  Well,  how  much  kin  yer  give  fer  the  lot  ?" 
drawled  the  dowdy  man. 

"  Kaint  go  more'n  six  bits — in  trade,"  replied 
Mr.  Jelks,  discouragingly. 


A   JOURNEY   AND   AN   INTRODUCTION.        6l 

The  customer  took  his  pay  in  fish-hooks  and 
plug-tobacco,  and  after  Mr.  Jelks  had  served  him, 
the  merchant  picked  up  the  interesting  bundle  of 
reptiles,  and  dumped  them  into  a  corner  of  his 
storeroom. 

"  'Taint'  quite  safe  ter  leave  'em  where  people 
might  step  on  'em  with  bare  feet,"  as  if  to  explain 
his  wise  precaution.  "  Thet  might  happen  jest  as 
bad  as  bein*  bit  by  one  of  'em — a  steppin'  onter 
them  fangs." 

"  What  on  earth  did  you  buy  them  for  ?"  in- 
quired Estill,  shuddering  with  the  contemplation  ; 
"  people  over  here  don't  eat  such  game,  do  they?" 

"  No — kain't  say  as  they  do,"  replied  Jelks 
slowly,  as  if  he  were  not  quite  positive  on  that 
point.  "  Least  I  doan't  buy  'em  fer  thet.  I  git 
them  for  ther  ile.  The  ole  woman  knows  how  ter 
extract  it  better'n  I  do.  It's  mighty  good  for 
ear-ache,  the  ile  uv  them  things  is,  'n  wuth  bout 
two  dollars  'n  ounce.  It's  also  good  for  rheuma- 
tiz,  some  sez.  Ruther  a  nice  job  a-gittin  it  out 
though,  'n  they  doan't  yield  much  till  they  git 
old." 

"  These  seem  to  be  fresh  caught,"  Estill  re- 
marked. "  Upon  my  word,  some  of  their  tails  are 
twitching  yet !" 

"  Yes,  they  alluz  does  till  sundown,"  explained 
Jelks  ;  "  one  of  them  critters  never  goes  clean  dead 
till  sundown,  even  if  it's  killed  airly  in  the  morn- 
in' — it's  ther  natur."  Mr.  Jelks  insisted  that  his 


62  A   SOUTHERN   HERITAGE. 

personal  knowledge  substantiated  this  peculiarity 
in  snakeology  ;  and  then,  remarking  that  business 
was  picking  up,  resumed  his  position  on  the  barrel. 
After  Howard  had  amused  himself  for  a  few  min- 
utes by  conversing  with  Mr.  Jelks  upon  finance 
(having  discovered  that  he  was  an  ardent  green- 
backer),  he  change  d  the  subject  to  the  negro  Zeb. 
The  store -keeper  remembered  him  quite  well. 
He  had  had  commercial  transactions  with  him.  So 
far  as  he  recollected  such  business  relations  had 
been  satisfactory.  But  Zeb  lived  about  six  miles 
away  back  in  the  country.  Mr.  Jelks  did  not 
know  the  exact  spot,  but  the  colored  citizen  who 
had  invested  in  a  nickel's  worth  of  tobacco  at  his 
counter  did  know,  and  he  was  forthwith  called  up 
from  his  loafing-place  at  the  "depot." 

Mr.  Jelks  had  a  horse  and  wagon,  both  of  some- 
what archaic  pattern,  and  Estill  engaged  the  negro 
to  drive  him  to  Zeb's  plantation.  It  was  a  rocky 
road  part  of  the  way,  and  the  remainder  was  so 
full  of  ruts  and  holes  that  the  expedition  was  in 
constant  danger  of  being  wrecked. 

Finally  the  driver  announced  that  they  were 
nearing  Zeb's  farm.  It  was  a  most  lonely,  dreary 
place.  On  one  side  of  the  ragged  road  was  a 
scrawny  copse  ;  on  the  other,  a  small  field,  grown 
up  to  weeds.  Rank  mullein  stalks  crowded  the 
dog-fennel,  while  here  and  there  a  few  misguided 
stalks  of  corn,  sprung  from  leavings  of  last  year's 
crop,  had  made  a  sickly  attempt  to  grow,  but  had 


A  JOURNEY  AND  AN   INTRODUCTION.        63 

been  contaminated  and  smothered,  and  looked 
yellowish  and  puny.  Back  from  the  road  some 
distance  there  stood  a  dilapidated  house. 

"  Poor  Zeb  doesn't  appear  to  be  very  prosper- 
ous," mused  Howard,  as  they  drove  up  the  nar- 
row lane,  the  weary  horse  nipping  at  the  tall 
weeds  by  the  way.  Beyond  the  mansion  of  logs 
and  clapboards  was  a  row  of  tall,  scraggy  Lom- 
bardy  poplar  trees,  their  solitary  appearance  made 
doubly  so  by  two  or  three  dead  ones  standing  in 
the  line.  There  is  something  emblematic  of  lone- 
someness  in  a  Lombardy  poplar,  at  its  best,  but 
here — these  seemed  closely  associated  with  the 
spirit  of  Horror!  When  they  reached  the  yard 
an  ugly  spotted  snake  squirmed  across  the  path, 
and  a  half-starved  rat  scampered  from  the  door- 
steps. 

"Guess  dar  an't  nobody  to  home,"  said  the 
darky,  when  they  found  the  house  closed  up  and 
forsaken. 

"  There  has  not  been  for  months,"  exclaimed 
Howard  in  disgust ;  "  the  place  has  been  vacant 
and  neglected  for  a  long  time." 

"  'Spect  Zeb  done  gone  moved  'way,"  replied 
the  negro,  as  if  still  half  in  doubt.  And  after 
thinking  very  hard  for  a  minute,  and  rubbing  his 
woolly  head  all  over,  in  characteristic  fashion,  his 
face  lit  up  with  the  light  of  memory,  and  he  ex- 
claimed :  "  Law  sakes,  I  rec'lect  now — dat  niggah 


64  A   SOUTHERN   HERITAGE. 

Zeb  done  moved  to  Kansas  las'  yeah,  fuh  shuah, 
yah  yah  !" 

Howard  felt  that  words  would  be  unequal  to 
the  situation,  but  when  the  grinning  darky  saw 
the  expression  of  his  face  he  suddenly  desisted 
from  his  hilarity,  and  his  voice  was  that  of  meek- 
ness. 

Dusty,  and  tired,  and  disgusted,  Esiill  got  back 
to  the  station  in  time  to  catch  the  return  train  ; 
and  as  he  moved  away  he  glanced  from  the  win- 
dow of  the  car,  and  saw  Mr.  Jelks  seated  on  his 
barrel,  apparently  meditating  upon  the  flood-tide 
of  his  ancient  prosperity. 

The  train  on  the  main  line  was  a  trifle  behind 
time,  and  it  was  quite  late  when  he  reached  Ayres- 
boro,  so  he  did  not  see  anybody  till  the  following 
morning  at  breakfast.  He  was  rested  by  that  time, 
and  his  bath  had  put  him  in  a  good  humor,  so  that 
he  began  to  be  greatly  amused  at  his  experiences  of 
the  day  before.  Isn't  it  odd  that  so  many  of  the 
most  amusing  incidents  of  our  lives,  are  funny 
only  after  they  are  passed  and  done  with  ! 

Howard  entertained  Florence  and  Mrs.  Ord- 
law  at  length  with  his  graphic  account  of  the 
trip,  and  with  his  powers  of  mimicry  gave  an  ex- 
hibition that  afforded  the  invalid  girl  great  merri- 
ment. All  his  disappointment  was  hidden  from 
her.  What  a  joyous,  lighthearted  boy  she  thought 
he  was — always  ready  with  a  story  or  a  bit  of 
drollery  to  put  her  in  good  spirits. 


A  JOURNEY  AND  AN  INTRODUCTION.    C$ 

• 

Even  her  mirth  iiad  something  pathetic  in  it 
for  Howard ;  for  it  always  impressed  him  with  a 
thought  of  how  very  happy  she  might  have  been 
but  for  her  misfortune,  and  how  her  innocent 
mind  seemed  scarcely  to  realize  the  privations  she 
suffered.  One  so  appreciative  and  grateful  of 
heart  would  have  found  so  much  in  life  to  enjoy, 
so  many  things  to  have  prized. 

"  It  almost  makes  me  feel  rebellious,"  he  re- 
marked to  Mrs.  Ordlaw,  "  when  I  contemplate 
that  the  pleasures  of  life  that  , human  creatures 
court  the  most — balls,  dancing,  theatres,  the 
opera,  the  admiration  and  envy  of  others — must 
be  forever  denied  to  her!  And  her  uncomplain- 
ing resignation — that's  what  makes  it  seern  all  the 
more  cruel." 

"  It  may  appear  so  to  our  imperfect  vision,"  re- 
plied Mrs.  Ordlaw,  consolingly.  "But  you  know 
we  must  accept  everything  as  for  the  best  and 
not  question 

"  Oh,  teach  that  to  your  children,  but  spare  me," 
Howard  rejoined  impatiently.  "  My  experience 
with  the  world  has  unfitted  me  for  any  such  pious 
nonsense.  Things  go  for  the  worse  in  a  majority 
of  instances,  and  that  is  not  for  the  best.  How- 
ever, I  don't  wish  to  shock  you,  my  good  aunt ;  I 
know  your  orthodox  convictions." 

"  That's  considerate  of  you,"  replied  Mrs.  Ord- 
law quietly;  "but  let  me  ask  of  you,  Howard, 
which  doctrine  you  would  rather  teach  to  your 


66  A   SOUTHERN   HERITAGE. 

innocent,  helpless  sister ;  mine  which  gives  me 
peace  and  hope,  or  yours  which  makes  you  re- 
sentful ?" 

"  Neither,"  replied  Howard,  promptly.  "  Mine 
is  not  a  doctrine  at  all ;  I  only  refuse  to  pin  my 
faith  to  a  beneficence  which  there  is  every  reason 
to  believe  does  not  exist.  I  could  not  imagine 
any  greater  arrogance  than  to  tell  my  sister  that 
I  think  it  entirely  for  the  best  that  I  am  strong 
and  capable  of  all  worldly  enjoyment,  and  that  she 
is  to  be  a  suffering  invalid  for  life!  It  is  not  nec- 
essary to  ask  her  to  believe  that.  I  can  make  her 
happier  with  my  sympathy,  and  love,  and  kind- 
ness. But  I  prefer  to  believe  that  humanity 
would  be  very  much  better  without  misery,  and 
crime,  and  poverty,  and  pain — they  are  not  for  the 
best." 

"  But  if  it  should  lead  ultimately  to  perfection 
and  supreme  happiness,  would  not  you  then  be 
able  to  see  the  wisdom  of  the  great  Power  who 
guided  us  through  these  trials  that  we  might  be 
the  better  fitted  for  a  higher  state?" 

"  Would  even  that  be  the  best  possible  ?"  asked 
Howard,  seriously.  "  Could  not  the  Power  which 
you  revere  as  supreme,  if  He  were  able  to  plan 
and  carry  to  perfection  such  a  scheme,  have 
arrived  at  perfection  by  a  shorter  way?  And  if 
that  shorter  way  had  avoided  all  the  horrors — too 
dark  and  intense  to  contemplate — that  our  race 
has  suffered,  would  not  that  have  been  better? 


A  JOURNEY  AND  AN  INTRODUCTION.    67 

Oh,  you  say  we  would  not  have  appreciated  it  so 
much  without  this?  But  let  me  say — Perfect 
goodness  is  not  relative  ;  past  conditions  can  have 
no  effect  upon  it  whatever — the  idea  of  perfect- 
ness  precludes  that  entirely.  I  am  not  any  hap- 
pier because  my  remote  ancestors  lived  in  caves 
and  fought  with  wild  animals  for  existence.  I 
would  much  rather  not  have  had  such  ancestors. 
I  would  rather  they  had  lived  in  good  houses  and 
fared  comfortably  from  the  beginning.  Honesty 
and  virtue  are  good  in  themselves ;  not  because 
there  is  also  licentiousness  and  cruelty.  Civiliza- 
tion is  blessed  and  admirable,  but  not  any  the 
more  so,  intrinsically,  because  the  world  was  once 
in  darkness,  and  men  were  continually  destroying 
each  other.  Christianity  is  a  good  religion,  but 
not  any  the  better  because  men  have  been  tor- 
tured to  death  by  tens  cf  thousands  in  its  name. 
It  would  have  been  better — 

Mrs.  Ordlaw  was  a  devout  Baptist,  in  good 
standing,  and  to  her  such  heresy,  expounded  by 
one  whom  she  loved  and  honored  as  much  as  she 
did  Howard  Estill,  distressed  her  sorely.  Howard 
suddenly  discovered  that  her  face  was  sad,  and 
that  tears  were  glistening  in  her  eyes.  "  Why, 
what's  the  matter,  auntie  ?"  he  asked  sympatheti- 
cally. 

"  It  sounds  so  wicked  to  hear  you  talk  so," 
auntie  replied  ;  "  it  would  be  so  much  better  for 
you  if  you  had  more  faith." 


68  A  SOUTHERN   HERITAGE. 

Estill  was  at  first  prompted  to  reply  that 
devout  faith  in  something  he  could  not  possibly 
know  anything  about  seemed  to  him  but  a  kind 
of  superstition  ;  but  seeing  that  to  prolong  the 
controversy  would  cause  pain  without  establish- 
ing the  rationality  of  his  convictions,  he  broke 
it  off. 

"  I  wouldn't  have  you  think  me  blasphemous, 
Aunt  Sara — not  for  anything.  I  simply  deplore 
everything  that  is  painful  and  evil,  and  wish  it 
were  better.  That's  all.  Hope  it  all  will  be  better 
some  time.  Come,  now  don't  tell  Florence  that  I 
have  been  complaining." 

"  You  see,  you  acknowledged  yourself  that  to 
undermine  her  faith  a  particle  she  would  be  less 
happy." 

"  Well,  ahem !  I  don't  wish  to  meddle  with 
either  her  faith  or  yours.  No,  if  it's  any  consola- 
tion, stick  to  it,  both  of  you.  It  won't  do  you 
any  harm,  at  least."  And  he  went  away  saying  to 
himself,  "  Reason  is  at  a  great  disadvantage  in 
cases  like  this." 

As  he  soliloquized,  he  took  his  way  to  the 
Snowflake.  The  inn  looked  somewhat  cheerless 
externally  to-day,  for  the  weather  had  turned 
rather  cloudy  and  cold,  as  the  weather  frequently 
does  in  June  (audacious  as  it  seems  to  be),  and 
the  guests  were  hovering  indoors,  wishing  that 
there  was  a  little  fire  somewhere  to  get  near  ; 
which  there  was  not.  One  of  them  intimated  to 


A  JOURNEY  AND  AN  INTRODUCTION.    69 

Major  Derryberry  that  grate-fires  would  not  be 
unpleasant. 

"  What,"  exclaimed  the  major,  "  fires  at  this 
date  in  a  summer  hotel  named  the  Snowflake  J 
Oh,  no,  that  would  be  inconsistent ;  and  if  there's 
one  jewel,  gentlemen,  that  I  prize  above  another, 
it  is  consistency.  Here,  whist ! — boy,  bring  me 
my  overcoat.  There's  every  indication  that  it  will 
be  warmer  to-morrow,"  The  next  week  the  ther- 
mometer registered  95  degrees  of  heat  ;  and  the 
complaining  guests  remarked  that  "  Snowflake  " 
was  a  very  inopportune  name  at  both  extremes. 

"  Hello,  old  chappie,"  chirruped  Floyd,  accost- 
ing Howard  in  the  lobby  ;  "  Uncle  Wat  is  here 
and  was  asking  about  you." 

"  Asking  about  me  ?  Why,  how  does  he  know 
anything  about  me — he  never  saw  me  ?" 

"  Well,  I  think  we  may  have  said  something  to 
him  about  you — in  fact,  I  believe  we  did  mention 
you  first." 

"  We  did,  eh  ?     Who  is  we  ?" 

"  Why,  ah,  I  think  cousin  Olive  was  present, 
when  we  spoke  of  you.  I  think  she  was.  Don't 
remember  what  she  said.  May  not  have  said 
much.  Think  I  asked  Uncle  Wat  if  he  knew 
you." 

(i  I  hope  you  didn't  broach  the  scheme  you 
had " 

"  Oh,  no,  nothing  of  the  sort,  clear  fellow. 
Wouldn't  have  clone  it  against  your  wishes,  you 


70  A   SOUTHERN    HERITAGE. 

know.  But,  really,  Uncle  Wat  seemed  to  know 
something  about  you, — asked  immediately  if  you 
were  from  the  South,  and  how  long  you  had  been 
in  New  York, — said  the  name  was  familiar  to 
him.  And  of  course  I  gave  you  a  great  send-off. 
The  scheme's  a  winner,  old  chap.  Uncle  Wat's 
dead  sure  to  take  a  liking  to  you,  and  it  will  be 
the  making  of  you." 

All  this  did  not  make  much  impression  on 
Howard's  mind.  He  regarded  it  more  as  a  whim 
of  Floyd's,  one  which  grew  out  of  the  goodness  of 
his  heart,  but  which  was  not  likely  to  have  any 
serious  effect  upon  so  great  a  financier  as  Mr. 
Kirkwood  was  represented  to  be. 

While  Floyd  was  still  talking,  Estill  observed  an 
elderly  gentleman,  with  the  bearing  and  manner  of 
one  who  has  achieved  success  and  is  pretty  well 
satisfied  with  the  performance,  walk  briskly  up  to 
the  cigar  stand  and  light  a  cigar.  He  was  faultlessly 
dressed  for  the  time  and  place,  his  hair  was  white 
and  wavy,  and  his  heavy,  gray  mustaches  were 
carefully  curled  at  the  ends.  He  was  a  man  to 
attract  attention  anywhere. 

"  Ah,  ha,  here's  Uncle  Wat,"  exclaimed  Floyd, 
suddenly  catching  sight  of  the  distinguished- 
appearing  man  ;  and  he  immediately  took  Howard 
to  him  and  made  the  two  acquainted. 

"  Estill,  Estill,"  said  Mr.  Kirkwood,  meditative- 
ly, when  Floyd  first  mentioned  Howard  to  him, 
the  day  before. 


A  JOURNEY  AND  AN  INTRODUCTION.    /I 

"  Yes,  you  must  know  him,  he's  got  a  reputa- 
tion— made  it  with  his  brains — got  lots  of  'em. 
Of  the  order  of  geniuses — elegant  fellow,  too, 
uncle  ;  a  devilish  nice  fellow,  with  plenty  of  style, 
too.  He  ought  to  have  ten  thousand  a  year." 

"  He  ought  to  get  it,  too,  if  he  has  a  good 
stock  of  brains,"  answered  Mr.  Kirkwood. 

"  Yes,  and  no  doubt  he  will,  when  he  gets  the 
right  start.  Don't  think  he  has  struck  his  win- 
ning gait  yet.  But  he  will,  and  he's  going  to 
make  a  valuable  aid  for  some  great  man — one  like 
you,  for  instance,  Uncle  Wat." 

Uncle  Wat  grunted,  snapped  his  eyes,  and 
puffed  at  his  cigar.  "  So  you  think  he  has  rare 
ability,  eh  ?"  he  asked. 

"  I'm  entirely  convinced  of  it,"  continued  Floyd 
enthusiastically,  "  and  for  versatility,  why,  he 
hasn't  his  equal  in  the  club.  He's  a  remarkable 
fellow,  can  do  anything!  Don't  make  any  differ- 
ence whether  it's  carve  a  turkey,  write  a  sonnet,  or 
tie  a  neck-scarf,  he  has  the  skill  and  taste  of  a  born 
artist.  I  tell  you,  he's  a  remarkable  man." 

Mr.  Kirkwood  suddenly  ceased  blowing  away  a 
mouthful  of  smoke,  and  looked  at  his  eloquent 
nephew  with  a  comical  expression  of  incredulity. 
"  He  must  be  a  wonder,"  he  remarked  ironically, 
after  a  moment.  "  But  do  you  think  these  re- 
markable abilities  would  help  him  any  in  building 
a  railroad,  or  foreclosing  a  mortgage?'' 

Mr.  Claycourt  did  not  argue  that  they  would, 


?2  A   SOUTHERN    HERITAGE. 

but  he  insisted  that  Mr.  Estill  was  a  remarkable 
person,  as  nearly  all  his  intimates  were  remarkable 
persons  in  one  way  or  another,  whenever  he  spoke 
of  them.  And  of  course  he  left  the  impression 
upon  Mr.  Kirkwood's  mind  that  the  young  man 
Estill  was  a  good  deal  of  a  swell,  and  in  consider- 
able need  of  the  wherewithal  to  support  him- 
self. 

So  when  Claycourt  introduced  him  he  was 
favorably  surprised.  He  was  a  good  deal  the 
style  of  man  that  Mr.  Kirkwood  liked  to  see.  He 
might  be  fastidious,  but  he  was  not  foppish. 
Kirkwood  eyed  him  keenly  for  a  minute,  and  said 
to  himself,  "  There  doesn't  seem  to  be  much  non- 
sense about  this  fellow.  Perhaps  the  boy  was 
half  right." 

While  the  three  were  talking  pleasantly  there 
came  a  bell-boy  to  Mr.  Kirkwood  and  informed 
him  that  Mrs.  Kirkwood  was  much  worse,  and 
that  his  presence  was  required  at  once. 

"  Very  well,"  replied  Mr.  Kirkwood  passively  ; 
"tell  Hopson  I'll  be  there  as  soon  as  I  finish  my 
cigar,"  after  which  he  went  on  talking  and 
smoking. 

"  I  suppose  he's  used  to  these  sudden  changes 
for  the  worse,"  thought  Estill,  after  his  first  sur- 
prise. "  At  least,  it  doesn't  seem  to  alarm  him 
much.  I  wonder  how  amicable  their  family 
relations  are,  anyway?" 

After  Mr.    Kirkwood    left   them  Howard    and 


A   JOURNEY   AND   AN   INTRODUCTION.         73 

Floyd  talked  for  awhile  with  the  major,  and  be- 
fore leaving  the  hotel  Estill  requested  to  know  if 
Mrs.  Kirkwood's  relapse  was  really  serious. 
"  Wait  a  minute  and  I'll  see,"  replied  Floyd.  "  I 
won't  ask — that's  unreliable  ;  I'll  just  take  a 
look." 

Within  three  minutes  Floyd  returned  smiling. 
"  She's  getting  ready  for  the  cotillion  party  Friday 
night,"  he  reported.  "  You'll  see  her  in  all  her 
glory,  my  boy.  I'm  always  proud  of  her  on  such 
occasions.  She's  truly  a  remarkable  woman  !" 


74  A  SOUTHERN   HERITAGE. 


CHAPTER  V. 

THE   IDLERS   OF  AYRESBORO. 

As  soon  as  Estill  was  gone  Claycourt  and 
Major  Derryberry  fell  to  discussing  him  in  a 
truly  friendly  fashion.  "  What  is  there  about  this 
inheritance  I  have  heard  him  speak  of  ?"  asked 
Floyd.  "  He  told  me  something  of  it  the  other 
day,  when  a  greedy-looking  lawyer  came  to 
volunteer  his  services  in  the  case;  but  I  didn't 
fully  comprehend  how  his  loss  came  about." 

"  I  don't  know  to  a  certainty,"  said  the  major 
deliberately ;  "  but  I  make  it  out  that  the  real 
facts  are  not  specially  flattering  to  Estill's  pride. 
You  see,  his  father  was  a  thrifty  sort  of  man,  and 
looking  considerably  ahead  he  saw  that  the  war, 
when  it  came,  would  be  likely  to  prove  a  dis- 
astrous one  to  property.  So  I  imagine  that  he 
either  took  his  gold,  into  which  he  had  converted 
most  of  his  assets,  and  buried  it,  or  gave  it  up  to 
some  friend  out  of  the  country  for  safe  keeping. 
In  either  case,  the  old  gentleman  being  dead,  and 
nothing  left  to  show  what  he  did,  it's  a  very  un- 
certain thing  to  hunt  for.  Howard  was  full  of 
patriotism,  and  hasn't  liked  to  admit  that  his 
father  would  resort  to  such  a  scheme  rather  than 


THE   IDLERS   OF  AYRESBORO.  75 

devote  his  fortune  to  the  cause  of  his  country. 
But  of  course  a  thoroughly  practical  mind  is 
likely  to  look  at  it  differently." 

"  It's  too  bad  that  he  started  in  after  it  the 
wrong  way,"  remarked  Floyd. 

"  He  was  in  too  much  of  a  hurry,  or  probably 
had  bad  advice.  And  from  what  he  tells  me,  it's 
pretty  plain  to  my  mind  that  the  lawyer  he  em- 
ployed sold  him  out.  He  always  was  regarded  an 
unscrupulous  fellow,  that  Sticey  was ;  but  sharp  ; 
yes,  sir,  I'll  allow  he  was  sharp." 

"  And  you  don't  think  there's  much  show  for 
Howard  ?'•' 

"  Can't  see  that  there  is.  But,  of  course,  some- 
thing might  turn  up.  Things  do  turn  up  oddly 
sometimes,  you  know." 

"  Sticey  will  be  out  of  Sing  Sing  before  long,' 
suggested  Floyd,  "  and  might  be  ready  to  sell 
the  other  chap  out  next  time,  eh?" 

"  Very  likely,  if  Howard  had  money  enough  to 
bid  against  the  other  chap.  Probably  that's 
about  what  he  would  have  to  do,  if  he  entered 
into  negotiations  with  Mr.  Sticey." 

Floyd  pondered  seriously.  He  seemed  for  a 
moment  to  be  exercising  his  mental  faculties  to 
an  unusual  extent.  "  It  doesn't  look  encourag- 
ing," he  remarked  finally ;  "  think  if  I  were  Estill 
I'd  be  looking  up  a  fortune  from  some  other 
source.  That's  been  my  advice  to  him." 

The  weather  soon   became  quite  warm  again, 


76  i  A   SOUTHERN    HERITAGE. 

and  the  guests  at  the  Snowflake  took  to  the 
verandas  and  wide  grounds  with  increased  grati- 
fication. It  was  about  sunset  when  Estill  walked 
leisurely  up  the  broad  steps  and  found  Olive 
Kirkwood  sitting  dreamily  alone. 

"  I  am  almost  surprised  to  see  you  coming," 
she  said  to  him.  "  But  then  I  presume  you 
didn't  know  that  I  was  here." 

"  I  see  you  can  be  ironical.  Well,  irony  can  be 
cultivated  like  any  other  quality,"  responded 
Estill  with  a  composure  that  was  calculated  to  be 
exasperating. 

"  I  meant  to  indicate  that  I  think  you  have 
been  quite  indifferent.  I  supposed  we  would  see 
you  often." 

"  I  have  been  here  quite  frequently.  Mr.  Clay- 
court  can  answer  for  that." 

"  Yes,  you  seem  to  direct  your  attention  all  to 
him  and  the  Major.  You  always  seem  to  be 
talking  with  them.  Apparently  quite  oblivious 
to  the  presence  of  anyone  else  here." 

"  I  am  very  sorry  if  I  have  appeared  careless  in 
that  respect.  I  assure  you  that  I  have  not  in- 
tended it.  You  see,  I  was  absent  one  day,  and 
everybody  has  been  driven  indoors  by  the  cold 
weather." 

"  Yes,  it  has  been  very  tedious,"  complained 
Olive. 

"  I  should  not -have  supposed  that  life  ever  was 
tedious  to  you,"  replied  Estill,  as  they  walked 


"  I  SHOULD  NOT  HAVE  SUPPOSED  THAT  LIFE  EVER  WAS  TEDIOUS  TO  YOU,"  REPLIED 
ESTILL,  AS  THEY  WALKED  DOWN  THE  PATH  THAT  LED  THROUGH  THE  SHADED  GROUNDS 
TO  THE  BROOK  AND  THE  WOOD  BEYOND.  Page  77 


THE   IDLERS   OF   AYRESBORO.  77 

down  the  path  that  led  through  the  shaded 
grounds  to  the  brook  and  the  wood  beyond.  It 
was  a  very  pleasant  walk,  especially  after  one  (or 
two)  got  away  from  the  grounds  immediately 
about  the  inn,  where  there  were  usually  some 
idlers  ;  and  crossed  on  the  rustic  bridge  into  the 
quiet  glen.  It  was  all  beautiful  and  delightful — 
the  hour,  the  situation,  the  scene.  Twilight,  a 
wealth  of  foliage,  and  seclusion  from  the  ever 
curious  world.  Besides  all  that,  there  was  Olive 
Kirkwood,  lovely,  sympathetic,  confiding ;  the 
glances  of  whose  brown  eyes  were  even  more 
eloquent  than  her  pretty  words.  And  if  Howard 
Estill  was  not  supremely  happy  with  all  this  en- 
chantment, (as  he  was  not,)  it  is  only  an  un- 
pleasant illustration  of  how  perverse  and  un- 
reasonable the  human  heart  can  be.  Without 
debating  the  case  with  his  soul,  Howard  felt  that 
he  was  in  immediate  danger  of  allowing  himself 
to  be  unduly  influenced.  After  thinking  it  over 
in  a  very  philosophical  way  he  had  concluded 
that,  all  things  considered,  it  would  be  an  unwise 
thing  for  him  to  fall  in  love  with  Miss  Kirkwood. 
Having  reached  that  ground  the  next  conclusion 
was  that  he  would  not.  And  having  thus  deter- 
mined upon  what  he  believed  to  be  most  advis- 
able, it  was  not  a  source  of  the  utmost  satisfaction 
to  feel  that  his  determination  had  very  little  to 
do  with  it,  and  that  he  was  likely  to  prove  much 
less  master  of  himself  than  he  had  supposed. 


78  A   SOUTHERN   HERITAGE. 

"  I  don't  believe  I  ought  to  complain  of  it  ever 
being  really  so,"  Olive  answered  ;  "  but  you  can't 
believe  that  some  hours  are  not  more  anxious  and 
wearisome  than  others?" 

"  No — that  would  exhibit  a  very  imperfect 
knowledge  of  life  in  general.  But  I  should  sup- 
pose that  one  in  your  position,  with  all  your  ad- 
vantages, and  hopes,  and  attractions  " — Howard 
stopped  short,  leaving  his  sentence  unfinished, 
and  seemed  to  have  forgotten  just  what  he  was 
going  to  say — which,  however,  could  scarcely 
have  been  attributed  to  a  lack  of  interest  in  the 
subject.  ''  I  don't  see  why  you  should  be  un- 
happy," he  continued,  taking  up  the  thread  of 
his  argument  (which  was  in  danger  of  becoming 
badly  ravelled)  after  an  awkward  pause,  and  clip- 
ping it  off  shortly. 

"  Oh,  I  don't  dream  of  being  so  now"  she  re- 
plied somewhat  impulsively.  After  which  there 
was  another  pause. 

"  Cousin  Floyd  tells  me  that  you  have  known 
a  great  many  hardships,"  she  said  presently. 
Howard  answered,  yes.  "  And  that  you  have 
seen  a  great  deal  of  trouble,  too,"  she  continued. 
Howard  answered  with  another  monosyllable,  and 
Olive  sighed  sympathetically.  "  You  must  be 
very  thankful  to  think  that  they  are  all  over,"  she 
remarked  consolingly. 

Howard  smiled  half  grimly.  "  How  do  you 
know  that  they  are  all  over?" 


THE   IDLERS   OF   AYRESBORO.  79 

"  Oh,  I  mean  those  that  are  past,  of  course." 

"  I  didn't  know  but  you  might  be  able  to  offer 
a  policy  of  insurance  against  any  more  happening 
to  me,"  he  said. 

"  I  wish  I  could,"  she  replied,  not  noticing  the 
tinge  of  sarcasm  in  his  remark. 

"  That's  really  very  good  of  you,  and  I'm  more 
thankful  for  that,"  he  answered  somewhat  more 
tenderly.  "  As  a  rule,  I'm  not  cultivating  thank- 
fulness, not  having  much  to  be  thankful  for,  and 
a  great  deal  more  to  deplore.  You  look  surprised. 
Pray  don't  be  shocked  at  my  seeming  irreverence 
— I  don't  wish  to  appear  wicked.  There — if  we 
keep  on  in  this  serious  vein  we  shall  grow  melan- 
choly. Do  you  hear  that  whippoorwill?" 

"  Yes.  But  I'm  in  no  danger  of  being  melan- 
choly, and  I  really  like  to  be  serious,  once  in  a 
while.  I  hope  you  don't  think  that  I'm  incapable 
of  it  ?" 

"  No.  I  see  that  you  are  also  capable  of  dis- 
tinguishing a  difference  between  being  serious  and 
being  sad.  Some  very  young  persons  seem  to 
know  no  medium  between  nonsense  and  sol- 
emnity." 

"  I  shouldn't  think  anyone  would  venture  to  be 
flippant  with  you." 

"  With  me — why,  am  I  such  a  forbidding  creat- 
ure in  appearance  ?  I  presume  it  must  be  that 
because  I  have  had  unusually  sad  experience,  for 


8O  A   SOUTHERN    HERITAGE. 

a  young  man,  those  who  know  of  it  think  I  am 
in  a  funereal  mood  continually." 

"  Well,  not  so  bad  as  that,"  Olive  replied ; 
"  but  it  must  be  admitted  that  you  look  rather 
lofty  and  severe  sometimes." 

"  Indeed  ?  Well,  ah,  thanks  ;  I  shall  try  to  cul- 
tivate a  more  pleasing  expression — with  your 
aid." 

"  You  are  beginning  beautifully." 

"  Under  such  tuition  I  shall  grow  perfectly 
charming." 

"  I  never  suspected  that  I  could  wield  such 
magical  influence.  Ha,  ha,"  she  laughed,  "  I 
thought  we  were  going  to  be  serious  with  each 
other." 

"  I  am  entirely  sincere,"  said  Howard. 

"  Were  you,  really  ?"  she  asked,  with  a  look  of 
pleasant  reassurance.  Well,  then — so  was  I." 

They  walked  a  little  nearer  together,  after 
having  established  this  confidential  relation, 
silently  for  a  while,  as  if  the  new-found  satisfaction 
were  dearer  unexpressed  in  words.  But  what  had 
been  said  was  enough  to  last  only  a  few  minutes. 

"You  seem  so  different,  the  better  one  comes 
to  know  you,"  remarked  Olive,  speaking  first,  of 
course. 

"  Isn't  it  so  with  every  one  you  know  well  ?" 
Estill  asked  carelessly,  instead  of  speaking  what 
he  felt. 


THE    IDLERS   OF   AYRESBOKO.  8 1 

"  Perhaps  so,  if  I  take  enough  interest  in  every 
one  to  observe  it — which  I  don't." 

"  It's  kind  of  you  to  make  an  exception  of  me," 
he  answered,  in  a  voice  that  implied  a  great 
sacrifice  on  her  part.  « 

"  Not  a  kindness,  only  something  that  is  irresist- 
able,"  she  said,  looking  up  into  his  face  with 
something  so  tender  in  her  beautiful  eyes  that 
Estill  half  doubted  for  an  instant  if  it  could 
really  be  meant  for  him.  "It  is  what  my  heart 
has  yearned  for,  and  yet  is  sorry  to  receive,"  he 
thought,  but  was  unresponsive  enough  to  give 
her  no  answer,  except  that  which  was  spoken  in 
his  glance.  "  I  havn't  said  much  to  encourage 
it,"  thought  Estill,  continuing  his  mental  solilo- 
quy;  "she  hasn't  said  much,  either;  neither  of 
us  has  said  much.  I've  talked  more  than  this 
sometimes  when  flirting  in  a  ball-room.  It  must 
be  somewhat  different."  The  last  with  a  mental 
sigh. 

There  was  nothing  to  marvel  at.  Of  course, 
the  insignificant  conversation  had  very  little  to  do 
with  it.  Words  seldom  have  very  much  to  do 
with  it — at  first.  They  are  usually  irrevelant,  or 
used  to  mask  the  feelings.  It  is  the  indefinable 
sympathy  between  soul  and  soul,  most  truly  and 
naturally  expressed  in  a  look. 

As  they  retraced  their  steps  and  neared  the 
hotel  they  were  joined  by  Mr.  Blake  Harrell,  who 
seemed  to  take  it  as  a  matter  of  course  that  his 


82  A   SOUTHERN   HERITAGE, 

presence  was  much  desired.  "  This  straying  away 
for  a  whole  hour  and  leaving  a  fellow  to  mope 
around  all  alone,  as  I've  been  doing,  is  deuced 
unkind,"  said  Mr.  Harrell  to  Olive,  in  the  most 
confident  and  familiar  way. 

"  How  wonderfully  plaintive  you  are,"  she 
answered  quite  as  easily  ;  "  almost  pathetic." 

"  Sufficient  cause — I'm  not  used  to  being  neg- 
lected," Mr.  Harrell  remarked. 

"  He  has  the  nerve  of  impudence,"  thought 
Estill,  "  or  else  they  are —  A  sharp  twang  of 
jealousy  came  with  this  alternative.  It  had  not 
occurred  to  him  before  why  this  fellow  Harrell 
was  on  such  terms  of  familiarity  with  the  Kirk- 
wood  family  ;  probably  because  he  had  given  him 
very  little  consideration  of  any  kind.  Estill  felt 
in  an  instant,  after  this  reflection,  that  Harrell 
was  just  the  sort  of  man  he  could  heartily  dislike 
without  any  effort  whatever. 

"  Oh,  you  can't  induce  me  to  waste  any  sym- 
pathy upon  you,"  Olive  replied.  "  Where  is 
mamma  ?  I  presumed  that  she  would  occupy  most 
of  your  time  here.  Besides  I  must  have  a  little 
diversion  sometimes,  and  Mr.  Estill  has  been  kind 
enough  to  give  me  almost  my  first  opportunity." 

"  Ha,  ha,  I  presume  Mr.  Estill  is  quite  willing 
to  shoulder  the  responsibility,"  laughed  Mr. 
Harrell.  "  Nevertheless,  I  fear  your  mamma 
would  not  thank  you  to  impose  my  attention  upon 
her  constantly." 


THE   IDLERS   OF  AYKESBORO.  83 

"  Ah,  he  must  be  Mrs.  Kirkwood's  physician," 
thought  Estill.  "  Of  course,  he's  the  doctor. 
That  puts  another  phase  upon  it.  What  sleek 
rogues  doctors  grow  to  be !" 

Upon  reaching  the  inn  they  found  Mrs.  JCirk- 
wood  the  centre  of  a  merry  little  party,  looking 
unusually  bright  and  interesting. 

"  Pray  don't  be  interrupted  by  our  intrusion," 
remarked  Mr.  Harrell,  taking  upon  himself  lightly 
to  apologize  for  the  trio. 

"  We  were  just  discussing  our  cotillion  party, 
and  of  course  you  were  not  here  when  we  needed 
your  suggestions,"  complained  Mrs.  Kirkwood  in 
a  very  sweet  and  effective  manner. 

"  A  thousand  pardons,  madam.  I  am  unfort- 
unate. Perhaps  it's  not  too  late — 

"  Yes,  it's  always  too  late  when  one  has  com- 
mitted an  error.  And  of  course  one  never  needs 
to  apologize  unless  he  has  erred,"  Mrs.  Kirkwood 
interrupted  him  to  say.  And  added  listlessly,  as 
if-  very  well  satisfied  with  her  effort  at  logic — 
"  Sit  over  here,  Blake  ;  you  obstruct  my  view  of 
the  lawn." 

Having  been  convicted  of  a  misdemeanor,  Mr. 
Harrell  promptly  did  as  he  was  bid,  and  for  a 
moment  affected  to  be  exceedingly  meek. 

"  Oh,  come,  Aunt,  don't  crush  Harrell  too  flat — 
somebody  only  wondered  if  he  would  prefer  a  ger- 
manj"  put  in  Floyd  Claycourt,  who  had  accom- 
plished a  record  of  keeping  silent  several  minutes. 


84  A   SOUTHERN   HERITAGE. 

"  Floyd,  Floyd,"  exclaimed  Mrs.  Kirkwood 
languidly,  "  why  will  you  persist  in  being  so  ab- 
surd !  Pray  don't  take  any  note  of  his  remarks, 
ladies — he's  a  hopeless  case."  After  which  Floyd 
smilod  upon  his  beautiful  auntie  very  sweetly,  as 
if  in  gratitude  for  being  let  off  so  easily. 

"  It  seems  so  strange  that  some  people  should 
talk  so  much  to  so  little  effect,"  continued  Mrs. 
Kirkwood  amiably,  "  and  say  so  many  absurd 
things,  especially  men." 

"  Men  have  to  regulate  their  conversations  to 
the  capacity  of  their  auditors,"  explained  Mr.  Har- 
rell  with  much  suavity  of  manner;  "and  when 
they  talk  with  women — 

"You  ungallant  wretch,"  exclaimed  Mrs.  Kirk- 
wood, interrupting  him ;  "  this  example  quite 
proves  the  truth  of  my  remark,  ladies ;  what  can 
be  so  utterly  unreasonable  as  a  man  ?" 

"  Woman,"  promptly  replied  Claycourt,  as  if  he 
had  been  asleep  during  the  previous  exchanges  of 
compliments,  and  had  woke  up  just  in  time  to 
accommodate  his  aunt  by  answering  her  last 
question. 

The  expression  of  commiseration  and  contempt 
that  immediately  appeared  upon  Mrs.  Kirkwood's 
face  was  worthy  of  a  greater  provocation — of  a 
more  daring  violation  of  truth.  It  would  have 
been  truly  withering  if  bestowed  upon  any  person 
other  than  her  audacious  nephew.  He,  happily, 
had  become  hardened  in  the  peculiar  wickedness 


THE    IDLERS   OF   AYRESBORO.  8$ 

of  disturbing  her  complacency,  and  invulnerable 
to  the  pungency  of  her  rebukes. 

"  I  have  already  apologized  for  Mr.  Claycourt's 
ridiculous  behavior,  ladies,  but  you  see  he  seems 
to  have  no  sense  of  humiliation.  Floyd,  I  am 
mortified  at  your  lack  of  wit.  Mr.  Harrell,  haven't 
you  observed  that  I  dropped  my  smelling  salts  ?" 
And  regaining  her  nose-tonic,  Mrs.  Kirkwood 
settled  back  in  her  white,  fluffy  wrap  with  the  air 
of  a  grand  duchess.  Those  of  the  company  who 
knew  her  but  slightly  were  quite  impressed  with 
her  hauteur.  Those  who  knew  her  well  smiled 
unto  themselves. 

"We  seem  to  be  forgetting  the  cotillion  party," 
Miss  Olive  remarked  after  there  had  been  a 
moment's  quiet.  "  I  hope  our  friends  will  arrive 
from  Washington  in  time  for  it." 

"  They  will  think  we  are  a  very  prosy  party  in 
a  very  dull,  uninteresting  place,"  put  in  Mrs.  Kirk- 
wood.  "  What  can  one  mean  who  is  not  an  in- 
valid by  coming  to  such  a  nook  ?  It  is  very 
depressing  when  one  thinks  of  Newport  and  Sara- 
toga." Then  everybody  talked  enthusiastically 
about  the  life,  and  society,  and  style  of  those 
resorts,  and  the  brilliant  parties  of  a  number  of 
other  noted  places,  in  the  true  summer-resort 
manner  ;  every  other  place  being  pictured  as  in- 
comparably more  interesting  and  desirable  than 
the  one  they  were  at. 

It    began   to  grow  dusk,   and    Mrs.  Kirkwood 


86  A    SOUTHERN    HERITAGE, 

felt  the  moisture  in  the  evening  air.  At  first 
there  was  a  slight  cough,  which  Harrell  was  quick 
to  notice. 

"  Better  have  a  heavier  wrap,"  he  suggested. 
"  You  are  likely  to  catch  cold — ' 

"  Pray  don't  mention  any  more  horrible  things 
that  are  likely  to  happen  to  me,"  replied  Mrs. 
Kirkwood  ungratefully  ;  "  you  are  as  bad  as  Hop- 
sorr,  and  I  believe  that  she  really  tries  to  frighten 
me  to  death.  Why  are  people  continually  prophe. 
sying  such  dismal  things  for  me  !  It  is  growing 
cooler,  I  imagine.  Hopson  !" 

Hopson,  the  stout  English  woman,  was  usually 
within  easy  call,  but  at  this  moment  happened  to 
be  farther  away. 

"  Do  summon  Hopson,  Floyd,"  commanded 
Mrs.  Kirkwood  pettishly.  "  It  is  shameful  the 
way  that  creature  neglects  me.  I  suppose  she 
will  leave  me  to  perish  sometime.  I  don't  believe 
you  sympathize  with  me  a  bit,  you  wretch,  smiling 
so  fiendishly" — this  to  Harrell,  who  was  looking 
amused.  "  I  suppose  both  of  you  could  see  me 
die  in  agony  without  being  the  least  bit  disturbed. 
Here,  Hopson,  I've  been  calling  you  for  an  age — 
my  cough-lozenges !  And  take  the  cushions 
— if  I  stay  here  any  longer  I  shall  die  of  neuralgia 
—Blake,  what  can  you  be  talking  so  confidentially 
about  with  Olive?  Mr.  Estill,  don't  let  them 
ignore  you  entirely.  Really  you  have  remained 


THE   IDLERS   OF   AYRESBORO.  87 

wonderfully  silent  since  you  sat  here.  I  hope  you 
are  not  a  dreamer.  I  hate  dreamy  people." 

"  Indeed,  I  am  anything  but  that.  But  at  times, 
you  know,  madam,  one  finds  himself  so  highly 
entertained  by  the  conversation  of  others  that  he 
prefers  to  listen  rather  than  say  much  himself— 

Mrs.  Kirkwood  graciously  accepted  Howard's 
ambiguous  explanation  as  a  compliment,  not  de- 
tecting the  irony  that  prompted  it.  He  had  been 
listening  to  just  the  kind  of  drivel  that  he  felt  the 
greatest  contempt  for,  and,  as  Mrs.  Kirkwood 
talked  in  her  whimsical,  exasperating  manner,  had 
wondered  how  Olive  could  have  been  reared  un- 
der such  influence  and  still  possess  her  gentleness 
of  disposition  and  sincerity  of  heart. 

"Auntie  is  perfectly  charming,  to-night,"  re- 
marked Floyd  enthusiastically,  after  Mrs.  Kirk, 
wood  had  expressed  her  opinion  of  Mr.  Estill's 
superior  wisdom.  "  Really,  my  dear  Aunt,  I 
haven't  seen  you  so  vivacious  for  weeks." 

"  My  dear  Floyd,  it  consoles  me  to  see  that  you 
are  capable  of  observation  at  times,"  she  replied 
patronizingly. 

"  You  really  don't  know  how  perfectly  happy  I 
am  when  you  appear  so  well,  dear  Aunt.  That's 
right,  go  in  out  of  this  dew-laden  atmosphere." 

Mrs.  Kirkwood  affected  to  ignore  Floyd's  last 
words  entirely  ;  Harrell  offered  her  his  arm  and 
escorted  her  indoors.  When  she  was  gone  Floyd 
began  to  whistle.  Olive  talked  a  few  minutes 


88  A   SOUTHERN    HERITAGE. 

with  Estill,  and  also  went  in.  Then  both  he  and 
Floyd  lighted  cigars. 

"  Ever  see  a  woman  just  like  that  aunt  of 
mine  ?"  asked  Claycourt. 

"  Honor  bright — no,"  Estill  replied. 

"  She's  a  precious  one,"  continued  Claycourt, 
now  putting  both  feet  up  carelessly  over  the  rail- 
ing ;  "  told  you  before  that  she  was  remarkable." 

"  She  is,"  assented  Estill. 

"  Oh,  this  is  nothing.  "You  haven't  been  half 
surprised  yet.  She's  a  genius  in  the  way  of  sur- 
prises. For  a  long  time  I  was  in  constant  sur- 
prise that  she  kept  alive.  I  think  I  should  be 
surprised  now  if  she  should  die." 

"  Must  have  had  a  good  constitution  to  begin 
with." 

"  Not  that  I  ever  heard  of." 

"  Good  attendance  is  everything.  Harrell,  I 
have  no  doubt  is  quite  efficient." 

"In  what?" 

"  As  a  physician." 

"  Physician  be  blowed !  He  doesn't  know  a 
Sedlitz  powder  from  a  gin  fizz." 

"  I  didn't  know,"  said   Estill,  laconically. 

"  Of  course  not.  You  had  to  account  for  him 
some  way.  He's  just  accidental — just  took  a 
fancy  to  my  aunt  for  some  reason,  and  hasn't  any- 
thing to  do  but  humor  her  whims.  Long-time 
friend,  you  see." 

"  Ah,"  oaid  Estill  ;  and  then  both  smoked  in 
silence. 


INFATUATIONS   AND    DIVINATIONS.  89 


CHAPTER  VI. 

CONCERNING   INFATUATIONS    AND    DIVINATIONS. 

ESTILL  smoked  and  meditated  a  great  deal 
during  the  remainder  of  the  evening.  When  such 
moods  came  upon  him  he  was  taciturn,  and  Mr. 
Claycourt  remarked  more  than  once  that  his  friend 
was  not  half  sociable. 

The  Kirkwood  family  was  perplexing  Howard 
not  a  little.  He  flattered  himself  on  being  able 
to  discern  the  real  character  and  motives  of 
people  about  as  quickly  as  most  men  of  his  years, 
but  in  this  instance  there  appeared  unusual  con- 
tradictions. Here  was  a  family  of  three  mem- 
bers, each  one  of  whom  seemed  to  have  entirely 
different  temperaments  and  characteristics  from 
the  others.  He  could  not  keep  Olive  out  of  his 
mind,  and  she  kept  the  father  and  mother  con- 
tinually in  view.  He  wished  Mrs.  Kirkwood  were 
different.  He  hated  insincerity  ;  and  she  was  a 
perfect  type  of  it.  Her  affectation  took  a  form 
of  tyranny.  And  Olive  was  so  bewitching  ! 

Estill  retired  feeling  dissatisfied.  He  was  aware 
of  an  attraction  that  was  going  to  be  difficult  for 
him  to  withstand.  He  wished  he  hadn't  come 
with  Claycourt — or  that  he  had  kept  away  from 


90  A   SOUTHERN   HERITAGE. 

the  inn — or  that  Olive  had  ignored  him.  That 
would  not  have  been  agreeable,  to  be  sure,  but  he 
wouldn't  have  thought  about  it  long. 

The  next  morning  he  spent  with  Florence,  and 
in  the  happiness  of  her  society  forgot  somewhat 
of  his  perplexity.  Whether  he  had  succeeded  or 
not,  he  endeavored  never  to  appear  dispirited  or 
distressed  in  her  presence. 

In  the  afternoon  he  started  as  usual  for  a  stroll. 
It  seemed  the  most  natural  thing  in  the  world  for 
him  to  reach  the  inn  very  soon,  and  to  find  Miss 
Kirkwood. 

"  I  did  not  see  you  all  the  morning,"  she  said. 

"  Why,  no.  I  must  not  allow  myself  to  spend 
too  much  time  here.  You  know  I  am  visiting  my 
invalid  sister,  and  not  seeking  diversion  at  a  sum- 
mer resort." 

Olive  did  not  reply,  but  looked  disappointed, 
hurt,  as  if  he  had  administered  a  sharp  rebuke. 
Howard  immediately  felt  a  twinge  of  conscience 
for  having  spoken  so  abruptly,  and  did  not  lose 
much  time  in  trying  to  make  his  remark  appear 
justifiable. 

"I  fear  you  scarcely  realize  my  actual  position, 
Miss  Kirkwood,"  he  said  ;  "  I  am  not  a  man  of 
much  leisure.  My  circumstances  do  not  warrant 
it.  What  I  have  I  should  by  rights  devote  to  my 
sister.  She  is  most  unfortunate.  I  would  be  an 
unworthy  fellow  if  I  did  not  try  to  make  her  life 
as  cheerful  as  possible.  She  has  never  known 


INFATUATIONS   AND   DIVINATIONS.  91 

pleasure  as  you  have — think  of  being  confined  to 
an  invalid's  chair  all  one's  life  !  When  I  come 
down  here  and  find  her  so  helpless  and  pale,  I 
censure  myself  for  ever  allowing  my  heart  to  be 
gay." 

"  Do  you  think  she  would  wish  you  to  feel  that 
way  ?" 

"  No,  she  is  the  soul  of  resignation  and  unself- 
ishness." 

"  And,  I  am  sure,  exceedingly  fond  of  you.  You 
promised  to  take  me  to  see  her." 

"  Yes,  sometime  when  you  wish  it." 

"  I  wish  it  now — would  like  to  go  this  after- 
noon." 

"  Then  you  shall — come." 

Olive  appeared  exceedingly  happy  as  she  walked 
down  the  lane  with  Howard  toward  Mrs.  Ord- 
law's  cottage,  and  Florence  was  pleased  as  well  as 
surprised  to  see  them  coming. 

"  I  have  brought  Miss  Kirkwood  to  see  you, 
deary,"  said  Howard  in  a  cheerful  manner  when 
they  came  up  to  her ;  "  she  was  good  enough  to 
want  to  come."  Olive  sat  down,  quite  close  to  the 
invalid  after  the  simple  introduction,  and  Howard 
was  quick  to  observe  that  they  appeared  to  be 
entirely  congenial  and  to  understand  each  other 
perfectly. 

"  After  your  brother  had  told  me  about  you  I 
could  hardly  wait  to  call  on  you,"  Olive  said ;  "  I 
think  you  are  fortunate  in  having  a  big  brother 


92  A   SOUTHERN    HERITAGE. 

who  talks  so  beautifully  about  you.  I  almost  felt 
acquainted  with  you  before  I  came." 

"  Oh,  you  can't  imagine  what  a  good  big  brother 
he  is,"  replied  Florence ;  "  life  would  be  very 
bleak  without  him." 

"  Yes,  I  can,"  responded  Olive  so  quickly  that 
she  felt  abashed  at  her  candor.  "  Anyway,  I 
think  I  can,  though  I  never  had  a  brother  myself." 

"  I  don't  suppose  any  one  else  ever  had  one 
quite  like  mine,"  said  Olive. 

"A— hem!"  interrupted  Mr.  Estill,  fidgeting 
about  uneasily  ;  "  if  this  eulogy  is  to  continue  I 
think  it  would  be  good  form  for  me  to  go  some- 
where and  take  a  smoke." 

"  No,  no,"  objected  both.  Florence  declared 
that  it  was  not  half  as  much  as  she  felt  like  saying, 
and  Olive  thought  he  really  ought  to  be  delighted 
to  stay  and  hear  it. 

"Ah,  isn't  this  a  picturesque  spot,  Miss  Kirk- 
wood,"  asked  Howard,  shifting-  the  subject  sud- 
denly. 

"A  most  charming  spot.  What  a  magnificent 
view  in  that  direction — miles  and  miles  !  And 
beautiful  hills  nearer  off  this  way,  and  the  village 
nestling  close  by — indeed,  I  should  never  grow 
weary  of  it.  It  must  grow  dearer  to  you  every 
day,  dear  Miss  Estill." 

"  Oh,  but  you  should  remember  that  it  is  not 
always  summer,  and  the  hills  are  not  always 
clothed  with  green,  and  we  can  not  always  sit  out 


INFATUATIONS   AND    DIVINATIONS.  93 

here  in  the  warmth  of  June — and  in  winter  it 
sometimes  looks  pretty  bleak,  especially  if  the 
winters  are  unusually  long." 

"  I  suppose  it  must  be  quite  different  to  you 
then,"  said  Olive  with  much  sympathy  in  her 
voice.  And  she  silently  wondered  how  the  poor 
girl  could  endure  to  be  shut  up  in  such  a  secluded 
place  all  winter  without  the  resources  of  society 
and  amusements. 

"  Yet  we  often  have  very  good  times,"  continued 
Florence,  as  if  guessing  what  had  passed  in  Olive's 
mind  ;  "  little  Rilly  is  always  ready  for  some  game 
that  is  sure  to  interest  us  both,  and  it  is  some- 
times wonderful  how  quickly  the  time  passes. 
Then  my  dear  friend  Bessie — you  haven't  seen 
Bessie  Medlock  yet  ?" 

"  No  ;  tell  me  about  her." 

'•  Oh,  she's  ever  so  good,  and  growing  so  pretty, 
too,  isn't  she,  Howard?" 

"  Perfectly  lovely,"  assented  Howard. 

"And  so  sweet-tempered — " 

"  Like  an  angel  in  that  respect,"  continued  Mr. 
Estill  in  his  corroborative  testimony. 

"  I  hope  she  will  come  while  you  are  here— but 
of  course  you  would  have  to  know  her  some  time 
to  find  out  how  really  admirable  she  is,"  said 
Florence,  observing  a  changed  expression  on  Miss 
Kirkwood's  face,  which  seemed  to  say  that  she 
was  incredulous,  or  losing  interest  in  the  subject. 


94  A   SOUTHERN   HERITAGE. 

It  did  not  escape  Howard,  either.  Perhaps  he 
had  been  watching  for  it. 

"  Bless  my  heart,  she  took  it  just  as  I  feared," 
he  said  to  himself.  "  Now,  why  should  she  care 
whether  I'm  interested  in  Bessie  Medlock  or  not? 
A-hem — and  why  should  I  have  cared  a  cent  last 
night  whether  she  was  interested  in  Harrel  or 
not  ? — ah,  me,  we're  all  queer  creatures,  and  pretty 
much  alike  !" 

"  You  should  ask  Floyd  about  Miss  Medlock," 
continued  Florence,  "  I  am  sure  he  would  speak 
well  for  her — it's  odd  that  he  should  get  acquaint- 
ed with  her  before  you." 

"  Yes,  I've  no  doubt  Floyd  would  give  you  a  very 
glowing  account  of  her,"  said  Howard,  ready  to 
change  the  current  of  Olive's  suspicion.  "  He 
seems  to  be  very  much  smitten — accidental  meet- 
ing, you  see — romance,  and  that  sort  of  thing," 
he  explained  carelessly. 

"  Oh,  indeed,  do  tell  me,"  exclaimed  Miss 
Kirkwood,  suddenly  brightening  up  with  increased 
curiosity;  "  I  wouldn't  miss  anything  like  that  for 
the  world !  And  my  rogue  of  a  cousin  hasn't 
mentioned  a  word  of  it." 

Before  Florence  had  finished  relating  the  story, 
Bessie  and  Rilly  appeared,  coming  up  the  walk; 
and  in  a  few  minutes  more  Bessie  was  telling  it 
over  again  in  her  own  simple  manner,  as  if  there 
had  not  been  the  least  bit  of  design  in  Mr.  Clay- 
court's  actions. 


INFATUATIONS   AND   DIVINATIONS.  95 

"  Now  isn't  that  just  like  Floyd,"  said  Olive ; 
"  he  wouldn't  be  happy  if  he  wasn't  up  to  some- 
thing of  that  kind." 

"  But  it  really  wasn't  his  fault,"  interposed 
Miss  Medlock  with  most  artless  sincerity. 

"Ha,  ha,  ha, "  laughed  Olive ;  "to  be  sure,  it 
wasn't  anybody's  fault." 

"Don't  be  abashed  at  their  laughing,  Bessie," 
said  Howard,  who  was  smiling  also.  "  Girls  take 
a  wicked  delight  in  teasing  each  other,  you 
know."  After  which  audacious  fling — as  Miss 
Kirkwood  termed  it — Mr.  Estill  sank  into  a 
hammock  and  pretended  to  read.  In  reality  he 
was  listening  with  pleased  interest  to  the  busy 
conversation  of  the  three  happy  maidens. 

While  this  agreeable  communion  of  youth  and 
innocence  was  going  on,  Mr.  Claycourt  sauntered 
carelessly  out  of  the  wood  with  his  gun,  came  up 
past  Mrs.  Ordlaw's  house,  as  if  by  the  merest  acci- 
dent, stopped,  caught  sight  of  the  merry  party, 
leaned  lazily  against  the  fence,  and  sighed  a  loud 
"  heigh-ho  !"  It  was  such  an  explosive  sigh  that 
Mr.  Estill  heard  it.  So  did  Rilly.  The  young 
ladies  might  have,  also,  had  not  all  three  been 
talking  at  once — a  sure  indication  of  feminine  en- 
joyment. 

"  Hello,  old  chap,"  Howard  called,  without  get- 
ting up. 

"  Hello,"  replied  Floyd  languidly. 

"  Well,  dear  me,  just  look  at  that,"  exclaimed 


g6  A   SOUTHERN   HERITAGE. 

Miss  Kirkwood,  as  the  attention  of  all  was  at- 
tracted to  the  new-comer,  speaking  of  him  as  if 
he  had  been  a  sign-post  just  planted  there. 
"  What  in  the  world  are  you  standing  there  for  ?" 
she  continued. 

"  Killing  time — nothing  else  about  here  to  kill," 
he  replied. 

"Come  over  and  join  the  group,"  said  Howard  ; 
"only  leave  that  gun  at  a  respectable  distance." 

Floyd  stood  the  weapon  up  against  a  young 
cherry-tree,  and  accepted  the  invitation.  "  I'm 
jolly  glad  to  find  good  company — it's  such  a 
deuced  bore  to  be  alone,"  he  remarked  explana- 
torily. And  after  he  had  performed  his  courtesies 
to  Florence  and  Bessie,  and  pretended  to  pinch 
his  cousin's  rosy  cheek,  he  turned  to  Rilly. 
"  Come  and  shake  hands,  little  beauty  ;  and  give 
me  a  honey-suckle,  won't  you  ?  Thank  you. 
What  a  lovely  thing  it  is.  Gather  it  in  the  glen  ?" 

"Yes,  me  and  Bessie  picked  'em,"  replied  Rilly. 

"  Did,  eh  ?  You  always  go  with  Miss  Med- 
lock  ?" 

"  Most  always ;  and  she  goes  sketching  real 
often  now." 

"And  Floyd  goes  gunning  every  day,"  ex- 
claimed Miss  Kirkwood  significantly. 

"  Yes,  ah,  most  remarkable  coincidence,"  re- 
marked Claycourt,  in  a  half-stupid  way,  as  if  he 
did  not  quite  understand  what  the  laugh  that  fol- 
lowed was  about.  But  he  did  not  miss  seeing  the 


INFATUATIONS   AND   DIVINATIONS.  97 

pretty  blush  that  came  to  Bessie's  cheeks  ;  and 
said  to  himself  that  she  was  just  a  dear  dimpled 
charmer  of  a  girl,  and  no  mistake. 

"  It's  positively  wonderful  how  this  gunning 
business  takes,"  he  remarked  glibly;  "sorry  I 
never  hit  on  to  it  before.  Suppose  if  I  stay 
around  here  a  week  every  girl  in  the  place  will 
be  going  to  sketch  and  gather  honeysuckles  in 
that  glen." 

"Oh,  did  you  ever,  girls!  Just  hear  the  ego- 
tistical wretch  talk!"  exclaimed  Olive  Kirkwood. 
"  I  think  that  we  all  ought  to  ignore  him  en- 
tirely." 

"•  You  can't  ignore  a  fellow  when  he  is  blazing 
around  promiscuously  with  a  gun,"  reasoned  Mr. 
Claycourt,  quite  unmoved  ;  and  his  logic  had  the 
effect  of  making  his  timid  hearers  glance  uneasily 
toward  the  cherry  tree  where  the  deadly  imple- 
ment reposed,  and  shudder  at  the  possible  conse- 
quences. 

"  There  are  some  fellows  who  won't  be 
ignored,"  assented  Estill ;  "  and  not  always  those 
who  handle  firearms  carelessly." 

"And  they  always  seem  to  do  pretty  well," 
Floyd  remarked.  "  In  fact,  I  don't  think  it's  a 
good  plan  to  cultivate  extreme  modesty  at  the 
expense  of  all  the  other  virtues.  It  sort  of  un- 
balances a  fellow,  you  know — makes  him  uncer- 
tain, like." 

"  Dear  me,"  exclaimed  Olive  ironically.     "  Do 


98  A   SOUTHERN   HERITAGE. 

you  think  there  is  any  danger  of  my  cousin  be- 
coming unsteady  from  that  cause,  Mr.  Estill  ?" 

"  Not  in  his  nerve,"  replied  Estill. 

"  Oh,  come,  you  two  !"  protested  Floyd  ;  "you'll 
make  Miss  Medlock  believe  I'm  cheeky.  Don't 
you  think  they  are  inclined  to  be  severe  upon 
me,  Miss  Estill  ?" 

"  Perhaps  taking  a  slight  advantage  while  your 
gun  is  out  of  reach.  But  I  don't  think  there  is 
much  danger  of  Bessie  being  unjustly  prejudiced." 

"  No,  don't  be,  Bessie — I  mean  Miss  Medlock, 
don't  be.  You  see  my  sweet  cousin  here — beg 
pardon  for  my  familiarity,  Cousin — just  speaking 
metaphorically,  you  know — you  see,  she  likes  to 
be  a  bit  sharp  now  and  then,  and  thinks  me  a 
good  subject  to  practice  on.  I  bought  her  a 
parrot  last  year,  but  the  poor  thing  died,  poor 
thing  !  and  it  looks  as  if  I  would  have  to  endure 
it.  I  don't  mean  to  work  too  much  upon  your 
sympathies,  Miss  Bessie,  but,  ah,  if  you  could 
pity  me  a  little,  it  would — ah,  sweeten  my  bitter 
lot." 

"  I  should  be  afraid  to  refuse,  I  think,"  replied 
Bessie. 

"Oh,  don't  speak  of  fear,"  Floyd  quickly  re- 
joined; "  my  disposition  is  truly  docile,  and  I'm 
quite  harmless." 

"  The  gun  being  out  of  his  hands,"  suggested 
Howard.  And  spurred  on  by  Olive  and  Estill, 
Floyd  chattered  on  in  this  whimsical  fashion, 


INFATUATIONS   AND    DIVINATIONS.  99 

sometimes  half  mystifying,  but  always  entertain- 
ing the  village  maidens. 

While  he  was  thus  playing  leading  comedy 
part  with  such  marked  success,  he  was  interrupted 
by  a  new  arrival,  who  did  not  wait  at  the  gate  to 
be  invited  in.  It  was  a  swarthy,  round-featured, 
bare-headed  woman.  Her  black  hair  was  plaited 
and  peculiarly  bound  up  with  a  wealth  of  bright, 
orange  ribbon.  She  wore  a  small  red  shawl 
which,  falling  carelessly  from  her  shoulders, 
showed  that  her  large-figured  calico  bodice  was 
uniquely  decollete.  Her  skirt  had  stripes  of 
blue  and  yellow  in  it,  and  was  short  enough  to 
expose  to  view  hose  of  an  equally  interesting 
variety  of  colors.  A  gypsy,  of  course. 

Seeing  the  consternation  that  she  had  caused, 
the  intruder  threw  out  her  hands  in  a  manner  that 
would  have  done  credit  to  Ristori,  and  laughed 
heartily  enough  to  be  reassuring. 

"  The  nice  ladies  be  not  afraid,"  she  said,  "  I 
come  offer  you  much  great  pleasure  ;"  and  she 
laughed  again. 

"An  Indian,"  exclaimed  Claycourt. 

"  Indian,"  retorted  the  woman  with  a  con- 
temptuous laugh.  "  No  Indian.  Me  gypsy — 
Nan  the  gypsy.  From  very  strange  land.  Can 
tell  you  all  very  strange  things — true  things — me 
see  into  the  future.  The  nice  ladies  must  have 
their  fortunes  told — so  great  pleasure.  The  fine 
gentleman  surely  give  me  dollar  to  tell  ladies' 


100  A   SOUTHERN   HERITAGE. 

fortune  ?"     And    she  turned   her  eloquence   the 
second  time  upon  Claycourt. 

Floyd  gazed  at  her  comically,  till  everybody 
laughed  at  the  situation,  and  then  said,  with  a 
subdued  air,  "  I  confess  myself  a  captive,  and 
shekels  of  tribute  will  I  pay.  There's  silver  for 
thee,  Nan.  Make  the  stories  rose-tinted  and 
beautiful,  now.  No  bad  dreams,  or  heartbreakings, 
or  such  things — see  ?'' 

Nan  assured  him  that  she  was  of  mystical 
lineage,  had  most  phenomenal  powers  of  divining 
the  future,  and  would  therefore  relate  nothing  that 
would  be  unsatisfactory. 

"  That's  right,"  he  rejoined,  in  way  of  caution  ; 
"nothingbutthe  pearl-mounted  truth — good  news, 
lots  of  money,  manly  husbands,  ahem  !  fortunes 
across  the  sea,  good  digestions — that  sort  of  thing 
-see?" 

Nan  said  she  saw  clearly,  and  thus  pledged  to 
veracity,  her  patons  ought  certainly  to  have  been 
satisfied  with  her  divinations.  This  method  is 
suggested  to  those  impatient  mortals  who  are  not 
satisfied  with  the  trouble  they  already  have,  but 
seek  clairvoyants  in  order  to  anticipate  that  of 
the  future. 

Nan  was  a  most  subservient  sorceress.  She  be- 
gan with  Miss  Kirkwood,  taking  her  little  white 
hand  into  her  own  large  brown  ones  and  con- 
structing a  very  pretty  prospect  for  that  young 
lady. 


INFATUATIONS    AND    DIVINATIONS.  IOI 

"  The  queen  knows  her  business,"  exclaimed 
Floyd  proudly;  at  which  Nan's  black  eyes  gleamed 
gloriously. 

"  The  daughter  of  the  ancient  kings  of  Egypt 
and  Arabia  stands  in  solidly  with  the  Fates,  if  she 
is  color-blind,"  he  continued,  critically  observing 
her  somewhat  startling  costume. 

This  tearing  the  veil  away  from  the  future  con- 
tinued with  more  or  less  mystification  and  ambigu- 
ity till  every  one  had  had  a  peep  behind  it,  ex- 
cept Estill,  who  still  reposed  in  his  .hammock  and 
touched  off  occasional  incredulous  and  ironical  re- 
marks. 

"Now,  really,  it  is  wonderful!"  protested  Miss 
Kirkwood  ; '  some  of  those  things  did  happen — I 
know  they  did." 

"  Yes,  to  thousands  of  individuals — and  are 
likely  to  keep  on  happening,"  Estill  replied. 

"  See  here,  old  chap,  come  into  the  game  or 
keep  quiet,"  put  in  Floyd.  "  This  revelation  bus- 
iness is  too  popular  to  be  sneered  at.  Come  and 
try  your  luck  anyway — you  don't  have  to  buy  any 
chips?" 

With  such  technical  assurance,  Howard  could 
not  well  resist  the  numerous  solicitations,  and  the 
queasy  queen  soon  had  him  at  her  mercy. 

"  Oh,  you  have  very  much  to  find  out,"  she 
began. 

"  A  most  astounding  revelation,  truly,"  remarked 
Howard. 


102  A   SOUTHERN    HERITAGE. 

"  And  you  are  only  just  beginning,"  she  con- 
tinued. "  At  first  you  do  not  believe,  and  then 
you  are  much  surprised.  Then  you  fall  very  much 
in  love.  Oh,  so  very  much  in  love !" 

"  That's  right,  my  black-eyed  Glory,"  inter- 
rupted Claycourt,  "  make,  it  thick  and  strong — 
he's  a  hardened  old  sinner." 

"  You  have  great  heap  o'  trouble,"  she  went  on, 
"  but  it  all  come  out  right  after  long  time.  A  much 
bad  man  do  you  great  injury — let  me  see,  how? 
Not  about  the  love — no — about  the  money. 
There  be  much  money  for  you  to  get  some  time. 

"  Yes,  uncounted  millions — to  get,"  said  How- 
ard. "What  a  matchless  oddity  a  fortune-telling 
would  be  without  love  and  money  in  it — wouldn't 
it  ?" 

"  But  then  you  surely  be  very  happy  in  the  end, 
for  you  get  very  pleasantly  surprised,  and  after 
that  you  get  married  to  very  blue-eyed,  beautiful 
lady,  and  after  awhile  you  get  much  money,  and 
the  wicked  man,  he  make  you  no  trouble  any  more, 
and  then — of  course  you  be  happy." 

"And  then  the  millennium,"  added  Estill. 

Everybody  was  highly  pleased  at  the  outcome, 
and  the  young  ladies  declared  that  it  was  just  the 
loveliest  one  yet.  When  the  visitors  were  gone, 
Florence  said  to  him — 

"  I  believe  some  of  those  things  will  come  true 
to  you,  brother." 

"  Why — because  the  gypsy  predicted  them?" 


INFATUATIONS   AND   DIVINATIONS.          103 

"  No — because  you  deserve  them.  Not  only 
that  about  money,  but  about  the  love." 

"  Why,  Florence,  do  you  think  it  would  make 
me  a  better  boy?" 

"  No,  indeed,  but  I  believe  it  would  make  you 
a  happier  one." 

"  Bless  your  dear  little  heart." 

"  And  you  have  never  said  anything  to  me 
about  it.  I  have  wondered  why  you  did  not  take 
me  into  your  confidence  about  that,  too." 

"  Why,  little  sister,  I  should  feel  guilty,  if  I  had 
ever  been  seriously,  honestly  in  love  and  have 
kept  it  entirely  from  you.  But  I — ahem — haven't 
permitted  myself  to  be." 

"  I  used  to  dream  that  sometime  you  might — " 

"Had  some  one  in  view  for  me,  eh?"  he  in- 
quired, as  Florence  hesitated. 

"  You  know  Bessie  Medlock  has  been  growing 
so  pretty,  and  I  thought  if  you  would  only  fall  in 
love  with  her — " 

"  Ha,  ha,  you  dear  little  match-maker,"  laughed 
Howard.  "  It  was  perfectly  natural — I  see." 

"  But  I  was  convinced  this  afternoon  that  there 
was  no  use  of  my  thinking  about  it  any  longer." 

"  Exactly.  Think  you  are  quite  right.  Bessie 
wouldn't  be  at  all  likely  to  care  for  me,  and  .  .  ." 

"  That  isn't  the  reason  at  all,"  Florence  inter- 
rupted him  to  say. 

"No?  Then  what?"  he  asked  more  seriously. 


104  A   SOUTHERN    HERITAGE. 

"  I  couldn't  help  seeing  how  you  and  Miss  Kirk- 
wood  looked  at  each  other." 

"  I'm  a  little  surprised,"  he  remarked,  smiling. 

"  I  know  she  feels  a  very  deep  interest  in  you, 
brother.  Her  eyes  are  so  honest,  I  could  read  it 
in  them." 

Howard  gazed  thoughtfully  at  the  carpet,  but 
did  not  speak. 

"And  I  think  she  is  a  very  lovely  girl,  Howard. 
Not  any  more  so  than  dear  Bessie — but  I  think  I 
would  like  her  very  much  if  we  were  often  to- 
gether/' 

"  Well,  it  is  very  pleasing  to  me  to  hear  you 
say  so,  Florence,  for  I  believe  Miss  Kirkwood  is 
a  worthy  young  lady.  But  our  acquaintance  has 
been  short,  and  is  likely  to  be  transient.  Oh,  it's 
so  very  easy  to  meet  charming  girls  at  summer  re- 
sorts— or  almost  anywhere  else,  for  that  matter. 
There  are  a  great  many  of  them.  But  I  have 
never  allowed  myself  to  consider  one  of  them  be- 
fore you,  my  little  angel." 

"  Oh,  Howard,  you  are  too  good  to  me.  I  know 
I  could  not  live  without  you.  But  you  could  love 
me  just  as  much  if  you  loved  some  once  else  too, 
couldn't  you  ?" 

"  It  might  be — but  there  are  other  considera- 
tions. There,  let  us  not  talk  about  it  anymore." 

"But  I  am  sure  Miss  Kirkwood  likes  you." 

"It  may  be  a  fancy.  I  will  confide  in  you  all 
I  can — I  think  well  of  her,  too.  But  you  know  I 


INFATUATIONS   AND   DIVINATIONS.          105 

am  going  back  to  the  city  to  ivork.  It  may  not 
appear  so  important  to  you,  dear,  but  a  fellow  de- 
pending on  a  moderate  income  has  no  right  to  fall 
in  love  with  a  girl  like  Miss  Kirkwood." 

Poor  Florence  remained  silent  some  moments 
after  this,  with  a  shade  of  sadness  on  her  delicate 
features.  She  had  not  realized  that  the  distance 
between  them  was  so  very  great,  and  as  to  that,  it 
seemed  to  her  that  her  brother  was  worthy  to 
aspire  to  the  hand  any  young  lady,  heiress  or 
queen. 

Howard  rejoiced  that  Rilly  came  bounding  in 
with  a  laugh  and  a  story,  and  changed  the  con- 
versation. That  evening  he  did  not  go  to  the 
inn,  and  was  provoked  because  he  could  not  keep 
his  thoughts  from  continually  straying  off  there. 

"  It  is  strange  how  a  passing  infatuation  will 
make  a  fellow  uneasy,"  he  soliloquized;  "I  will 
bring  it  to  a  close  as  soon  as  I  can — conveniently." 


106  A   SOUTHERN   HERITAGE. 


CHAPTER  VII. 

TEARS  AT  THE  INN,  LAUGHTER  AT  THE  COTTAGE. 

ON  the  following  day  when  Estill  encountered 
Claycourt  he  had  just  been  persuing  a  letter  that 
came  in  the  morning's  mail. 

"You  remember  that  rusty  individual  who 
came  into  my  room  and  introduced  himself  as  a 
lawyer  ?"  he  said,  speaking  to  Claycourt  about 
it.  "  He's  writing  me  about  my  lost  inheritance 
— seems  really  to  be  making  investigations — prob- 
ably hasn't  anything  else  to  do.  Wouldn't  it  be 
odd  if  the  disreputable-looking  old  Insect  should 
stumble  upon  some  valuable  clew  ?  He  writes 
about  an  Estill  in  Michigan  engaged  in  the  honor- 
able avocation  of  agriculture  !  Just  listen  to  that 
phrase — "  honorable  avocation  of  agriculture  " — 
isn't  that  a  rounder  ?  And  about  another  family 
of  the  name  in  Pennsylvania  pecuniarily  inter- 
ested  in  the  production  of  petroleum'  Just  catch 
the  effect  of  that  line  on  your  attentive  ear.  And 
now  he  is  beginning  to  hint  at  the  expenses  that 
must  be  provided  for.  Think  I'll  advise  B.  Mur- 
chison  to  turn  his  attention  to  literature,  and  let 
the  Estill  estate  lie  wherever  it  is  buried." 


TEARS   AT   THE   INN.  IO/ 

"  Yes,  I  would  keep  shy  of  a  man  with  a  literary 
style  like  that,"  replied  Claycourt. 

At  this  moment  Mr.  Kirkwood  joined  the 
group,  looking  spruce  and  comfortable.  His 
quick,  nervous  glances,  and  directness  of  speech 
were  closely  observed  by  Howard. 

"  Uncle  Watson  has  a  great  head  for  this 
sort  of  business — why  don't  you  ask  a  pointer  of 
him  ?"  continued  Floyd. 

"  I  think  it  would  be  idle  to  bore  Mr.  Kirkwood 
with  so  foolish  a  scheme,"  Howard  replied. 

"  I  don't  think  business  ever  bores  my  uncle," 
rejoined  Floyd.  "  Isn't  that  so,  Uncle  ?" 

"  Never  when  I  can  be  of  any  service,"  said  Mr. 
Watson,  politely. 

"  You  are  very  kind,  but  I  fear  this  case  is 
hardly  worth  explaining.  You  probably  know 
that  I  am  from  the  South.  My  father  died  in  the 
Confederate  army  and  his  small  estate  disappeared. 
Sundry  accommodating  lawyers  persist  in  offer- 
ing their  services  toward  finding  it.  I  was  just 
reading  an  odd  letter  from  one." 

Mr.  Kirkwood  listened  attentively.  "  Well," 
he  asked,  "  do  any  of  them  succeed  ?" 

"  Not  as  far  as  my  information  goes,"  replied 
Estill. 

"  Who's  trying  it  now?" 

"  No  one  in  particular;  a  shyster  named  Mur- 
chison  is  trying  to  interest  me  anew  in  it." 

"  Why,  had  you  given  it  up  ?" 


108  A   SOUTHERN    HERITAGE. 

"  Several  years  'ago.  Got  tired  of  spending 
money  on  the  case  to  no  end  but  disappoint- 
ment." 

"  Exactly.  Speaking  in  general  terms,  I  should 
say  you  show  your  wisdom.  There's  nothing  so 
delusive  as  that  sort  of  game.  Ah,  from  Georgia, 
did  you  say  ?" 

"  No,  Mississippi — Vicksburg." 

"Ah,"  said  Mr.  Kirkwood,  and  appeared  to  be 
much  impressed  with  this  bit  of  common  infor- 
mation. 

"  Perhaps  if  you  fully  knew  Mr.  Estill's  remark- 
able experience,  you  would  advise  him  differ- 
ently," put  in  Claycourt  with  good  intentions, 
but  which  brought  something  like  a  frown  to 
Estill's  forehead  ;  he  dreaded  the  possibility  of 
having  to  recite  his  experiences  again. 

"  Remarkable,  eh  ?"  queried  Mr.  Kirkwood. 

"  Not  unusual  for  the  times  and  events,"  replied 
Estill.  And  in  the  briefest  manner  possible  he 
outlined  his  history. 

Mr.  Kirkwood  seemed  to  chew  his  cigar,  rather 
than  smoke  it,  while  listening. 

"  Very  unfortunate,"  he  remarked.  "That  war 
was  terrible.  It's  evil  consequences  will  long  sur- 
vive. The  good  that  comes  out  of  it  must  be 
very  great  to  balance  the  account."  Mr.  Kirk- 
wood was  visibly  affected  by  the  sad  contempla- 
tion. But  Major  Derryberry  came  jostling  along 
and  disturbed  the  serious  train  of  thought  by 


TEARS   AT   THE    1NX.  1 09 

dilating  upon  the  beauty  of  the  morning,  the 
delightful  atmosphere,  and  incomparable  advan- 
tages of  Ayresboro  for  summer  habitation. 

"  There's  nothing  else  like  it  on  the  continent," 
continued  the  Major,  who  had  just  partaken  of 
his  morning  julep,  and  was  corresponding  enthus- 
iastic ;  "nothing  at  all  like  it.  Just  step  out  on 
this  veranda,  gentlemen,  into  this  fresh  and  frag- 
rant air,  and  gaze  off  yonder,  down  that  valley, 
and  to  the  mountains  beyond  !  Isn't  it  glorious, 
isn't  it  a  dream  for  an  artist?  And  the  wood- 
covered  hills  off  here,  forming  a  perfect  back- 
ground to  the  admirable  situation.  Yes,  sir, 
gentlemen,  we  have  a  glorious  place,  and  with 
our  unrivalled  waters,  and  air  fresh  from  the  dewy 
mountains,  we  are  bound  to  become  famous.  Do 
you  take  a  little  something  in  the  morning,  gen- 
tlemen?" 

"  I  haven't  any  great  fancy  for  those  waters, 
thank  you,  major.  They  are  too  overpowering, 
nasty,"  apologized  Howard. 

"  Waters  to  the  devil,"  retorted  the  major  with 
the  spirit  of  rebuke.  "  Leave  that  stuff  to  the 
invalids.  Nominate  something  else  !" 

But  as  Howard  caught  sight  of  Mrs.  Kirkwood 
and  Olive  at  this  moment  he  deferred  his  share  in 
the  nomination  and  joined  them.  Mrs.  Kirkwood's 
whims  had  evidently  beeen  promptly  attended 
to  that  morning,  for  she  was  quite  amiable.  To 
be  sure,  she  mentioned  three  or  four  things  about 


110  A   SOUTHERN   HERITAGE. 

the  inn  that  she  considered  perfectly  horrid,  and 
complained  a  little  that  the  sunshine  beat  down 
around  the  house  so  brightly,  there  being  a  sad 
lack  of  shade-trees  and  awnings.  And  also  men- 
tioned incidently  that  the  people  who  arrived  the 
day  before  were  exceedingly  plain,  prosy  creat- 
ures, without  any  style  whatever.  But  aside 
from  these,  and  an  occasional  reprimand  of  Hop- 
son,  she  was  in  a  very  pleasant  mood. 

"  It  is  so  trying  to  refined  sensibilities  to  see 
things  continually  that  offend  good  taste.  But 
what  can  one  do,  when  one  must  come  to  such  a 
place  as  this,  Mr.  Estill  ?" 

"  Perhaps  my  tastes  are  not  aesthetic,"  replied 
Estill ;  "  but  I  have  thought  the  place  quite 
agreeable." 

"  Speaking  of  the  natural  environment,  quite 
true.  But  there  are  so  many  odd  creatures  of 
people.  Such  peculiar  ways  and  habits." 

"  I  fear  my  dear  mamma  is  critical,"  remarked 
Olive. 

"  My  child,  I  must  be — I  could  not  live  a  day 
without  being  so — I  am  a  Southener,  and  you 
know  Mr.  Estill,  your  true  Southener  is  nothing 
if  not  critical." 

"  The  natural-born  critic  has  quite  enough  to 
keep  him  busy  in  this  world,"  replied  Estill. 

"And  in  spite  of  us  all  there  is  so  much  bad 
form,  and  things  do  go  shuffling  along  in  such 
vulgar  manner !"  And  Mrs.  Kirkwood  sighed 


TEARS   AT   THE   INN.  Ill 

as  if  she  had  been  all  her  life  making  heroic 
endeavors  to  elevate  the  human  race  from  its 
depravity,  and  was  now  giving  it  up  in  sorrow 
and  disgust. 

From  this  depressing  topic  she  passed  on  to 
patriotism,  and  from  that  to  travel  and  the  drama. 
Mr.  Estill  proved  a  delightful  conversationalist, 
in  so  much  that  he  talked  very  little,  listened 
politely,  and  offered  no  contradictions.  There- 
fore Mrs.  Kirkwood  found  it  very  agreeable  to  dis- 
course to  him,  and  he  made  steady  advance  in 
her  good  graces. 

All  this  while  Olive  said  hardly  a  word,  but  sat 
as  if  quite  contented  with  the  company  she  was 
in.  Whenever  Howard's  eyes  met  hers,  which 
was  not  unfrequent,  there  was  a  happy  gleam  in 
them,  and  a  pleasant  smile  ready  on  her  face.  It 
did  not  require  words  to  keep  up  communication 
between  them. 

Gradually  the  group  became  larger,  as  other 
guests  sought  the  shady  verandas,  and  soon  the 
cotillion  party  again  became  the  subject  of  dis- 
cussion. 

"  You  don't  seem  to  take  much  interest  in  it," 
said  Olive  to  Howard. 

"  I  haven't  given  it  a  great  deal  of  thought." 

"  I  have  heard  you  say  you  were  very  fond  of 
dancing,  too.  Surely,  they  haven't  omitted  you 
from  the  list — " 


112  A   SOUTHERN   HERITAGE. 

"  Oh,  no.  The  major  was  kind  enough  to  ex- 
tend me  an  invitation." 

"  I  know  we  will  have  a  very  pleasant  time, 
although  it  is  rather  early  in  the  season,  and 
there's  not  likely  to  be  a  great  many." 

"  I  have  no  doubt  you  will,"  he  replied. 

"  How  you  talk — just  as  if  you  were  going  to  be 
a  thousand  miles  away !"  she  exclaimed.  "  Of 
course  you  are  coming — if  you  don't  we  will  never 
forgive  you." 

"Why,  are  you  going  to  be  short  of  men?"  he 
asked. 

"  Now  you  know  that  doesn't  make  any  differ- 
ence at  all,  Please  don't  be  contrary." 

"  Pray  don't  suspect  me  of  it,"  he  said  quickly. 
"  I  am  sure  I  had  no  such  intention.  But  you 
know  I  must  think  first  of  my  sister.  If  I  should 
say  to  her  that  I  was  going  to  leave  her  all  the 
evening  to  attend  a  ball,  don't  you  think  she  would 
feel  lonely  and  unfortunate  ?" 

Olive  remained  silent  for  a  moment.  "  It  is  so 
noble  of  you  to  think  of  her  so  tenderly,"  she  re- 
plied, "  but  I  am  sure  she  would  wish  you  to  spend 
a  pleasant  evening,  and  would  not  complain  at 
the  sacrifice." 

"  Well,  I  shall  probably  run  over  for  an  hour  or 
two,"  Estill  said  finally.  "  Think  I  will —  a  little 
late  perhaps." 

"  Ha,  ha,  ha,  "  chuckled  Claycourt,  tripping 
down  the  steps  to  where  they  were  standing, 


TEARS   AT   THE   INN.  113 

"  what  a  rare  old  character  that  major  of  yours 
is,"  speaking  of  him  as  if  he  were  Estill's  personal 
chattel.  "  I'm  just  beginning  to  appreciate  him. 
— Come  down  to  the  stable  with  me,  old  fellow, 
and  take  a  look  at  the  nags.  Major  says  they  are 
all  right,  and  we  may  want  to  ride,  you  know." 

Howard  begged  Miss  Kirkwood  to  excuse  him, 
and  the  two  went  away  together.  Olive  turned 
into  the  house  feeling  disappointed  and  piqued. 
For  awhile  she  tried  to  be  indifferent,  and  to  act 
a  merry  part  with  a  little  knot  of  young  ladies 
which  she  joined ;  but  her  grievance  was  too 
heavy.  She  soon  slipped  away  to  her  room,  drew 
the  shade  to  shut  out  the  glad  sunlight  which 
seemed  a  mockery,  locked  the  door  carefully,  and 
ducking  her  pretty  head  between  pillows,  gave 
vent  to  her  wretchedness  in  a  bitter  sob — "  He 
never — asked  me — to  go — go  to  the  ball  with 
him!" 

Poor  little  dear  !  She  wouldn't  have  had  any- 
body on  earth,  no,  not  any  body,  know  that  she 
was  crying  about  such  a  thing.  Perhaps  some 
cynical  folks  may  smile,  and  say  she  was  a  little 
dunce.  Very  prim-minded  people,  who  scorn  the 
miserable  shred  of  a  newsboy  and  take  a  loud  in- 
terest in  the  heathen  of  remote  lands,  would  prob- 
ably say  that  her  actions  were  not  only  altogether 
foolish,  but  improper  as  well.  The  idea  of  a  well- 
bred  young  lady  crying  on  account  of  a  young 


114  A   SOUTHERN   HERITAGE. 

man  whom  she  got  really  acquainted  with  only 
last  week — tst,  tst,  tst  ! 

Nevertheless,  Olive  was  vexed  and  very  un- 
happy, poor  girl  ;  and  no  amount  of  popular 
sympathy  woujd  have  allayed  her  distress.  The 
balm  and  poultice  of  pity  and  commiseration  rarely 
prove  efficacious  in  this  particular  form  of  afflic- 
tion. There  was  only  one  doctor  in  the  world 
who  could  have  furnished  instant  relief  in  this 
case,  and  he  was  frittering  away  his  time  at  the 
stable,  hands  in  pockets,  dilating  upon  the  many 
points  of  demerit  in  the  steeds  quartered  there, 
and  explaining  to  Floyd  Claycourt  the  general 
peculiarities  of  spavin  and  horse  rheumatism. 

After  crying  a  spell  Olive  felt  a  trifle  better, 
but  by  no  means  cured.  A  gleam  of  hope  entered 
her  heart,  and  finally  she  raised  the  window-shade, 
letting  the  sunshine  brighten  the  room  again.  It 
took  some  little  time  to  re-arrange  her  pretty 
wavy  hair  with  just  the  proper  effect  of  morning 
negligence,  and  several  minutes  more  were  spent 
in  artistic  endeavor  to  erase  with  the  aid  of  pow- 
der-puffs and  other  toilet  accessories  the  weepy 
traces  from  about  her  eyes. 

"  It's  only  eleven  o'clock,"  she  mused  ;  "there's 
a  possible  chance  yet.  Perhaps  he  will  come 
back  this  way,  or  call  around  in  the  afternoon. 
But  that's  putting  it  off  very  late  !  The  thought 
seemed  never  to  occur  to  him  to  invite  me,  al- 
though I  gave  him  every  opportunity  in  the  world. 


TEARS   AT   THE   INN.  11$ 

He  seems  so  thoughtful  and  considerate  about 
most  things,  too.  And  perhaps  he  might  think  of 
it  all  at  once,  and  write  me  a  note.  Oh,  dear — 
wouldn't  that  set  my  heart  to  beating  !  I  wonder 
just  how  I  would  feel,  getting  a  letter  from  him 
for  the  first  time?  He's  a  professional  writer,  too 
—I  am  sure  he  would  say  something  very  pretty. 
Wonder  if  he  ever  composes  poetry  ?  Let  me 
see — I  wonder  what  I  had  better  wear  to-night  ? 
A  simple  costume  would  no  doubt  please  him 
best.  And  I'll  have  Jeannette  do  my  hair  up  as 
high  as  ever  she  can — I  do  wish  I  was  a  few  inches 
taller." 

She  went  down  to  the  veranda,  where  she 
found  Mr.  Harrell  and  her  mamma,  and  sat  for  an 
hour  gazing  down  the  road  that  led  to  the  stable; 
but  Mr.  Estill  came  not  back  that  way.  Lunch- 
eon proved  a  very  uninteresting  repast  for  Olive, 
and  when  she  lay  down  for  her  customary  after- 
noon nap,  all  sorts  of  hopes  and  fears  and  fancies 
passed  through  her  mind  before  she  fell  asleep. 

It  was  quite  late  when  she  awoke,  and  it  seemed 
to  her  such  a  long,  long  time  since  morning.  She 
did  not  feel  vivacious  at  all.  Her  dear  mamma 
was  not  in  the  best  of  spirits,  either,  and  the  rosy 
hue  of  existence  was  not  by  any  means  at  its 
brightest.  While  she  was  dressing,  and  doing  as 
well  as  she  could  to  recover  her  wonted  enthusi- 
asm, a  bell-boy  brought  her  a  letter.  Her  heart, 
gave  one  wild  leap.  The  color  quickened  in  her 


Il6  A   SOUTHERN    HERITAGE. 

face  and  her  wavy  brown  hair  trembled  with  her 
emotion. 

4<  It's  from  him — I  know  it  is — I  would  have 
known  his  writing  on  anything — it  is  just  like 
him.  Ha,  ha,  he  did  remember — I  am  sure  of  it !" 
and  more  of  this  nature  she  exclaimed  and  thought 
during  the  moment  that  it  took  her  to  open  the 
envelope.  The  first  thing  she  did  was  to  glance 
at  the  signature — sure  enough,  Hoivard  EstilL 
Then  she  eagerly  read — "  Dear  Miss  Kirkwood — 
I  should  be  happy  to  have  your  company  for  a 
ride  to-morrow  morning  at  eight,  if  you  have  no 
previous  engagement.  The  saddle-horses  are  not 
first-rate,  but  will  do.  Called  to  see  you  this  af- 
ternoon, but  you  were  not  visible.  Ah,  come  to 
think  of  it — it  will  be  '  next  morning,  (after  the 
ball),  and  of  course  you  will  be  tired  and  sleepy — 
make  it  morning  following." 

Olive  looked  on  both  sides  of  the  paper,  and 
could  scarcely  credit  her  senses — that  was  all  there 
was  of  it!  And  almost  a  dead  disappointment, 
too.  It  was  plain  that  Mr.  Estill  was  not  looking 
forward  with  fluttering  and  anxiety  to  the  festivity 
of  the  evening. 

"He's  just 'too  awfully  aggravating"  Olive, 
complained,  throwing  down  the  open  letter. 
"  Why  couldn't  he  think  of  dancing  first — it's  just 
as  easy  to  leave  his  sister  for  that  as  for  riding ! 
He's  real  horrid — but  it's  real  nice  of  him  to  in- 
vite me  to  ride — it  will  be  delightful.  But  what 


TEARS   AT   THE   INN.  H/ 

was  the  use  of  his  saying  I  would  be  tired  and 
sleepy!  That  isn't  pretty  or  complimentary.  And 
he  doesn't  say  a  word  about  his  coming  to-night. 
I  believe  I'll  refuse  to  dance  with  him  if  he  does 
come.  Oh,  dear,  he  must  look  splendid  on  horse- 
back— I  know  we  will  have  a  lovely  ride,  but  I 
don't  see  why  he  can't  be  more  consistent." 

In  this  somewhat  oscillating  frame  of  mind  Miss 
Kirkwood  directed  the  elevation  of  her  coiffure. 

Mr.  Estill,  after  leaving  Claycourt,  spent  a  good 
part  of  the  day,  or  what  remained  of  it,  at  his  desk. 
He  had  a  number  of  letters  to  answer,  and  some 
special  work  to  do,  so  that  he  was  with  his  sister 
very  little  till  near  tea-time.  They  had  simple 
country  tea  at  Mrs.  Ordlaw's — some  thin  slices  of 
cold  chicken  or  cold  chipped  beef,  a  bit  of  jelly  or 
honey,  warm  biscuits,  fruit  sauce,  cookies,  and 
tea.  It  would  have  suited  Estill's  constitution 
better  if  he  could  have  had  a  bottle  of  beer  and  a 
sandwich  some  time  before  retiring  ;  but  his  sleep 
was  none  the  worse  for  having  to  forego  those 
bohemian  delicacies. 

"  You  haven't  been  very  sociable  to-day,"  said 
Florence  when  he  came  down. 

"Suppose  I  must  plead  guilty,"  Howard  re- 
plied. "  I  managed  somehow  to  waste  most  of 
the  morning  over  at  the  inn,  and  I  have  been 
really  busy  this  afternoon,  except  just  to  run  over 
to  the  inn  on  an  errand.  I'm  going  to  try  one  of 
the  major's  saddle-horses,  and  thought  I'd  give 


Il8  A   SOUTHERN   HERITAGE. 

Miss  Kirk  wood  a  chance  to  try  another  at  the 
same  time.  May  be  rash  ;  for  the  major's  stock 
doesn't  inspire  the  fullest  confidence.  They're 
a  wild-eyed  lot,  at  the  best — but  I  guess  too  jointy 
to  be  very  dangerous." 

"  Oh,  dear,  I  wish  I  could  go,  too,"  exclaimed 
Florence,  as  if  Howard's  description  prefigured 
superb  enjoyment. 

"  I'm  so  sorry  you  can't,  sissy,"  said  Howard 
feelingly.  To  hear  her  speak  so  almost  made  him 
regret  inviting  Miss  Kirkwood. 

"  I  presume  they  were  in  a  bustle  of  prepara- 
tion for  the  party  to-night  at  the  Snowflake  ?"  re- 
marked Mrs.  Ordlaw. 

"  I  didn't  take  much  note  of  it,"  replied  How- 
ard. 

"  I  suppose  it  will  be  splendid,"  spoke  up  Flor- 
ence ;  "  and  just  think — would  you  believe  it ! — 
Bessie  Medlock  is  going,  too.  Got  an  invitation 
from  Mr.  Claycourt,  if  you  please." 

"  That  makes  it  worse  still,"  thought  Howard  ; 
but  he  smiled  in  surprise  and  said  that  Mr.  Clay- 
court  was  behaving  very  handsomely.  Hoped 
Bessie  would  have  a  famous  time.  No  doubt  it 
would  be  a  great  event  for  her. 

"  I  do  wish  I  could  see  how  she  looks  there," 
said  Florence ;  "  more  beautiful  than  ever,  I  sup- 
pose. You  must  tell  me  all  about  her — and  be 
sure  to  pay  her  a  great  deal  of  attention,  won't 
you  ?" 


TEARS   AT   THE   INN.  119 

"  Most  willingly.  I  had  half  a  mind  not  to  go, 
but  suppose  I  ought,  especially  under  the  circum- 
stances." 

Some  way,  in  spite  of  the  talk  about  gaieties, 
and  pleasant  prospects,  the  evening  did  not  ap- 
pear to  be  a  very  joyous  one.  There  was  not 
much  animation  in  the  little  family,  and  Howard 
could  not  avoid  a  feeling  of  regret,  or  something 
that  told  him  he  was  not  doing  his  duty  to  his 
sister  in  a  perfectly  brotherly  manner. 

The  air  was  too  cool  to  be  outdoors  toward 
sunset,  and  Howard  and  Florence  were  together 
in  the  little  parlor  as  the  twilight  came  on.  He 
sat  by  the  window  and  read  to  her  a  story  from  a 
magazine,  until  it  grew  too  dark,  after  which  he 
tossed  aside  the  book,  settled  down  close  beside 
her  chair,  and  caressed  her  little  hands.  What 
perfect  calm  there  was  !  Those  were  moments 
that  brought  feelings  of  true  happiness  into  Flor- 
ence's heart,  and  deepened  Howard's  sympathy 
and  love  for  her. 

"  Recite  '  The  Sands  o'  Dee '  for  me,  won't 
you  ?"  she  asked.  Howard  had  a  good  voice,  and 
literary  taste  that  enabled  him  to  give  exquisite 
interpretation  to  poetry,  and  Florence  never  tired 
of  hearing  him.  He  recited  the  piece  she  asked 
for,  and  a  number  of  other  pretty  little  things  ; 
told  her  of  interesting  incidents  in  the  lives  of  the 
poets ;  related  other  simple  but  impressive  anec- 
dotes ;  all  in  perfect  harmony  with  the  quiet  hour. 


120  A   SOUTHERN    HERITAGE. 

and  thought  nothing  of  time  till  Mrs.  Ordlaw 
brought  in  the  parlor  lamp. 

"  I'm  sorry  to  leave  you,  sissy,"  he  said,  looking 
at  his  watch,  "  but  I'm  not  a  very  rapid  dresser, 
and  I  presume  I  had  better  get  at  it  if  I  am  going 
to  do  honor  to  the  Snowflakers  to-night." 

"  We  have  had  such  a  delightful  hour,"  she 
said,  sighing  at  the  thought  of  his  leaving. 

"  Beautiful,"  he  replied,  kissing  her  tenderly, 
"  and  I  hope  you  will  be  happy  for  the  remainder 
of  the  evening." 

"  Oh,  yes,  I  am  sure  I  will." 

"  And  you  must  not  let  her  get  lonely,  auntie," 
he  said  to  Mrs.  Ordlaw  as  he  left  the  room. 

An  hour  later  he  came  down  the  narrow  stair- 
case radiant  in  evening  dress,  with  a  light  over- 
coat loosely  around  his  shoulders.  He  paused  at 
the  parlor  door,  and  saw  Florence  all  alone,  read- 
ing. She  looked  so  solitary  and  helpless  that  her 
situation  touched  his  heart  keenly. 

"  What,  reading  yet,  sissy?"  he  exclaimed. 

"Yes,  I  am  just  finishing  the  magazine  story. 
It  ends  rather  pathetically,"  she  answered. 

"  I  am  almost  sorry  for  that — hoped  it  would 
come  out  jolly,"  he  said.  He  remembered  that 
all  the  events  of  the  evening  had  tended  to  put 
them  both  in  an  emotional  frame  of  mind,  and  the 
thought  of  deserting  her,  and  leaving  her  to  sad 
fancies  while  he  was  away  in  the  midst  of  merri- 
ment was  too  unpleasant  to  put  aside.  He  deter- 


TEARS   AT   THE    INN.  121 

mined    to  cheer  her  into  a  jollier  mood    at  any 
event. 

Florence  had  a  banjo,  which  she  was  very  fond 
of,  and  with  which  she  amused  herself  many  hours 
when  alone.  Howard  took  up  the  instrument 
from  its  accustomed  corner,  and  began  twinking  a 
lively  negro  melody ;  changed  lightly  to  gro- 
tesque "  patter  music,"  and  soon  had  Florence 
smiling  broadly.  That  was  sufficient  encourage- 
ment. "  De  ex'cises  am  now  "fully  originated,"  he 
gravely  announced  in  inimitable  darky  dialect, 
with  more  odd  twing-twang  effects  from  the  in- 
instrument.  Then  he  sang  a  rollicking  piece — a 
rousing  old  Mississippi  plantation  song  in  which 
there  was  a  grotesque  mixture  of  jubilation, 
superstition  and  other  nonsense,  wherein  the  dar- 
kies become  "  glorifired,"  and  "the  debil"  is 
hilariously  scouted  as  growing  correspondingly 
"mighty  tired."  After  this  he  exploded  an  assort- 
ment of  jokes  and  conundrums  with  marvellous 
effect — some  of  them  with  a  suspiciously  strong 
"end-man"  flavor;  but  they  took  immensely  with 
his  audience. 

Florence  laughed  and  applauded  enthusiastic- 
ally ;  and  before  he  had  finished  Rilly  stole  out 
of  bed,  and  stood  in  her  nightgown  peeping  in 
through  a  half-closed  door,  her  eyes  dangerously 
wide  open,  her  face  a  study  of  surprise  and  delight. 
Then  Howard  launched  into  quaint  stories  and 
mirth-provoking  antics  .that  would  have  turned 


122  A   SOUTHERN    HERITAGE. 

most  of  the   star  minstrel  performers  chalk-white 
with  envy. 

From  that  he  got  to  telling  Florence  about  the 
funny  characters  in  the  comedies.  No  one  would 
have  picked  him  out  for  a  mimic,  nor  one  given 
to  pranks  and  frolics,  but  on  special  occasions  he 
was  a  rare  hand  at  droll  capers.  To-night  he  was 
unusually  happy — perhaps  he  had  never  exerted 
himself  more  to  be  amusing  and  diverting.  He 
told  how  Cap'n  Cuttle  dressed,  and  showed  how 
he  walked  ;  hit  off  Lord  Dundreary  in  a  half-dozen 
different  situations  ;  changed  to  the  quaint  old 
Yankee,  Solon  Shingle,  with  his  bar'l  of  apple-sass, 
squeak  in  his  voice,  and  other  eccentricities,  and 
gave  lengthy  imitations  of  Mr.  Jefferson  in  lovable 
old  Rip  Van  Winkle. 

He  was  sitting  carelessly  on  the  table,  reciting 
Rip's  story  of  trouble  and  domestic  infelicity 
soliloquizing  that  if  ever  Gretchen  did  "  got 
schtumm'le  in  der  vater  now  she  got  to  schwim  ;" 
when  Mrs.  Ordlaw  put  in  an  appearance. 

"  Sakes  alive,  what  does  this  mean  ?"  she  in- 
quired, quite  surprised  at  the  situation  of  both 
actor  and  audience. 

"  Oh,  you  have  missed  it  by  not  being  here  all 
the  time,  auntie.  Brother  has  been  going 
through  such  wonderfully  funny  things.  Oh, 
dear,  I  have  laughed  till  I  am  tired."  And  Flor- 
ence dried  her  eyes,  as  if  she  had  been  crying. 

"  Hope  you  will  sleep  all  the  better  for  it,"  said 


TEARS   AT   THE   INN.  123 

Howard  ;  "  don't  know  when  I've  made  just  such 
an  exhibition  of  myself  before.  Don't  often  get 
such  a  good  chance." 

"  But  are  you  forgetting?"  asked  Mrs.  Ordlaw ; 
"  here  it  is  nearly  twelve  o'clock,  and  you  not 
gone  to  the  party  yet.  It  will  be  over  before  you 
get  there  !" 

"  Twelve  o'clock,  eh  ?  So  it  is,"  Howard  re- 
plied, taking  up  his  coat,  and  kissing  Florence 
good-night.  ''  Party  to  the  bow-wows — I've  had 
fun  enough  here,  for  to-night,  and  I'm  going  to 
bed." 


124  A  SOUTHERN   HERITAGE. 


CHAPTER    VIII. 

A   REBUKE,  AN   EPISODE,  AND   AN  ACCIDENT. 

HOWARD  felt  that  he  had  performed  a  very 
pleasant  duty,  and  consequently  slept  soundly. 
When  he  awoke  in  the  morning,  and  lay  at  full 
length  on  his  back,  with  his  hands  above  his  head, 
"  to  rest  awhile  before  getting  up,"  as  he  ex- 
plained to  himself,  he  fell  to  wondering  what  sort 
of  time  there  had  been  over  at  the  Snowflake  the 
night  before. 

"  It  was  quite  the  proper  caper  for  me  to  stay 
away,"  he  soliloquized  in  a  self-congratulatory 
mood.  "  I  must  say  for  myself  that  it  was  quite 
a  nervy  act,  all  things  considered.  It  was  some- 
thing that  probably  I  could  not  have  done  five 
years  ago.  Glad  I'm  arriving  at  a  point  where  I 
have  less  regard  for  such  frivolities,  and  more  cool 
sense.  Gives  one  a  more  satisfied  feeling.  Good 
sign — feeling  of  gratification  after  doing  the  sen- 
sible thing.  .  .  .  What  business  have  I  with  balls 
and  summer-hotel  idlers,  anyway?  If  old  Eccle- 
siastes  had  had  some  experience  of  that  sort,  then 
he  'Mould  have  bewailed  the  vanities  of  life.  Yet, 
I  suppose  I'd  play  a  great  hand  at  it,  if  I  wasn't 


A   REBUKE,  AN   EPISODE,  AND  AN   ACCIDENT.    12$ 

such  a  poor  devil.  .  .  .  Wonder  if  I'm  doomed  al- 
ways to  be  so  ?  What  contempt  a  rich  and  suc- 
cessful man,  like  Kirkwood,  for  instance,  must 
feel  for  a  fellow  who  hasn't  anything,  hasn't  done 
anything,  and  isn't  doing  anything !  Keen  man, 
that  Kirkwood.  A  born  financier,  I  should  say. 
Queer  how  some  men  take  to  making  money. 
Don't  suppose  he  ever  dreams  of  anything  else. 
Supposing  Claycourt's  scheme  should  carry,  and 
I  should  get  in  with  him,  and  he  should  take 
kindly  to  me,  and  I  should  be  able  to  get  along 
with  him — wonder  what  it  would  lead  to?  It 
might  mean  for  me  a  competence  in  a  few  years, 
independence,  popularity,  and — Olive  Kirkwood. 
I  would  be  junior  partner  and  son-in-law. 

"  What  nonsensical  castle-building  for  a  sensible 
man  of  mature  years  to  be  guilty  of !  It  would 
have  been  idle  enough  if  I  had  dreamed  it  while 
I  was  asleep.  .  .  .  Hang  it ! — why  can't  I  stop 
thinking  about  that  dear  girl !  She  captivates 
me — or  would  if  I  gave  her  chance  enough.  Evi- 
dently she  doesn't  dislike  me,  either.  .  .  No — it's 
foolish  to  think  seriously  about  it.  The  path  is 
not  clear  for  me.  My  better  way  is  to  get  back 
to  the  city  again,  and  to  work." 

It  was  high  noon  before  he  left  the  cottage. 
At  least,  it  was  noon.  Near  the  springs  he  met 
Miss  Kirkwood,  whose  day  had  but  just  begun. 

"  You  deserve  to  be  passed  by  with  only  a  nod," 
she  said,  looking  up  at  him  rebukefully. 


126  A   SOUTHERN    HERITAGE. 

"A  wordless  nod  is  cold  salutation,"  he  replied 
seriously. 

"  And  I  had  half  a  mind  to  do  it,  too." 

"  It's  not  a  good  plan  to  do  anything  without 
your  whole  mind,"  was  his  didactic  rejoinder. 

"Why  did  you  disappoint  us  so,  last  night?  It 
wasn't  at  all  graceful." 

"  I  didn't  suppose  that  a  very  great  many  would 
lament  my  absence." 

"  Oh,  you  are  very  modest.  If  it  was  only  one, 
I  presume  you  care  nothing  at  all." 

"  Pray  don't  think  so — it  would  be  wrong.  I 
did  start,  but — 

"With  only  half  a  mind,  I  suppose,"  she  inter- 
rupted, archly. 

"  Exactly.  And  you  see  I  didn't  get  there. 
Now,  don't  think  I  meant  to  be  stubborn — it 
wasn't  that.  My  poor  little  sister  didn't  seem  to 
be  feeling  cheerful,  and  I  spent  the  evening  in 
trying-  to  entertain  her.  Both  my  mind  and 
heart  were  in  that,  and  I  think  I  succeeded. 
Ahem — doubtful  if  I  would  have  done  half  as 
well  anywhere  else." 

Olive  remained  silent  for  several  minutes. 
Howard  saw  that  she  had  taken  the  matter 
really  seriously,  and  after  all  his  conscience  was 
not  entirely  at  ease. 

"  I'm  sorry  if  my  absence  caused  you  any — in- 
convenience," he  said  finally,  ending  his  apology 


A   REBUKE,  AN    EPISODE,  AND  AN   ACCIDENT.    12? 

in  a  rather  awkward  manner.  It  was  not  a  par- 
ticularly happy  effort. 

"  Oh,  as  far  as  convenience  went,  we  got  along 
quite  well  without  you,"  she  replied. 

"  One  consolation,  truly,"  he  rejoined.  "Ahem 
— beautiful  morning,  isn't  it?  Hillside  one  glo- 
rious mass  of  green.  Sunshine  quivers  against  it. 
Dreamy  sort  of  place,  isn't  it  ?" 

Olive  said  yes,  without  looking  around,  or 
appearing  to  be  the  least  bit  entranced  with  the 
charms  of  nature. 

"  Let's  sit  on  this  ledge  for  a  while,"  he  con- 
tinued. "  Tell  me  about  the  party.  How's  your 
mamma  feeling  after  it?" 

"  Very  well ;  I  think  she'll  be  up  again  by  to- 
morrow." 

"  Hope  she  will.  Pleasant  night  for  dancing, 
wasn't  it  ?" 

"Yes,  but  I  didn't  dance  so  very  much." 

"  Music  wretched  ?" 

"  Rather." 

"About  what  I  expected." 

"  Another  reason  you  stayed  away,  I  presume?" 

It  was  Howard's  inning  to  court  silence  a  min- 
ute or  two.  It  was  clear  that  they  were  using 
words  at  each  other,  and  not  talking  on  sympa- 
thetic terms  at  all.  Why  not  fully  understand 
each  other,  and  be  confidential  ?  That  was  what 
Howard  felt.  He  began — 


128  A   SOUTHERN    HERITAGE. 

"  The  truth  is,  Miss  Kirkwood,  I  have  been 
thinking." 

"  If  it  affects  you  like  that  always,  I  should 
think  you  ought  to  stop  it,"  she  remarked. 

"  I  must  admit  that  I  do,  now  and  then.  When 
it  becomes  oppressive.  Hope  it  doesn't  surprise 
you.  But  all  joking  and  irony  aside — I  must  be 
serious  and  practical,  you  know.  And  I  was 
really  thinking  this  morning  that  it  wouldn't  do 
for  me  to — ah — become  engrossed  in  these  holi- 
day pleasures.  I  should  have  to  break  off  from 
them  very  soon,  and  perhaps  it  might  be  a  regret 
rather  than  a  pleasant  remembrance  afterwards." 

"  I  wouldn't  have  supposed  that  you  would 
take  such  unhappy  views  of  it.  It  doesn't  seem 
like  you  at  all." 

"  I  wouldn't  have  you  suspect  that  I  am  a 
cynic.  It's  not  my  nature.  But,  you  see,  I  am 
several  years  older  than  you  in  years,  and  a  great 
many  older  in  experience.  And  much  of  it  has 
been  of  a  kind  to  make  me  thoughtful." 

"  Perhaps  I  haven't  fully  comprehended  you." 

"  It  would  be  somewhat  strange  if  you  had,  in 
the  short  time  that  you  have  known  me.  Yet  I 
should  be  very  sorry  to  have  you  misunderstand 
me.  We  have  been  so  very  congenial — if  we 
should  part  now  no  doubt  we  would  always  re- 
member it  with  pleasure." 

"  I  don't  understand  why  you  should  talk  so. 
You  don't  intend  to  go  so  very  far  away,  do  you?" 


A   REBUKE,  AN    EPISODE,  AND  AN   ACCIDENT.    129 

"  Miss  Kirkwood,  distances  of  separation  can- 
not always  be  measured  by  miles  or  leagues  of 
land  and  sea." 

"  Doesn't  your  imagination  help  you  at  creating 
distances  and  barriers?"  she  asked. 

"  I  don't  think  it  does.  When  I  write  poetry, 
the  editor  says  that  I  lack  imagination  entirely. 
Don't  believe  I  have  suddenly  discovered  it  in 
this  direction.  You  must  not  think  that  I  am 
consulting  my  desires  at  all — I  am  only  facing 
stern  conditions  with  what  seems  to  me  the  most 
prudence." 

"  But  if  it  isn't  going  to  make  anybody  any 
happier — 

Olive  left  her  sentence  a  fragment,  but  a  chap- 
ter could  not  better  have  described  her  thoughts. 

o 

Howard  was  hardly  prepared  for  it.  .He  had 
already  said  more  than  he  at  first  intended,  and 
now  he  was  farther  away  from  a  satisfactory  un- 
derstanding with  her  than  ever.  He  was  feeling 
less  sure  of  the  position  he  had  taken,  and  pretty 
much  at  a  loss  how  to  proceed.  Before  this  he 
had  been  concerned  mainly  about  his  own  happi- 
ness or  unhappiness  ;  a  very  selfish  consideration, 
as  it  appeared  to  him  now.  It  was  not  at  all  dis- 
pleasing to  what  vanity  he  had,  to  see  such  evi- 
dence of  Olive's  regard  for  him,  but  it  made  what 
had  seemed  a  prudent  course  of  action  appear  all 
the  more  difficult. 

"  I  see   my  sermonizing  isn't  making  anybody 


130  A   SOUTHERN    HERITAGE. 

the  happier,"  he  said  more  cheerfully.  "  Very 
well,  we'll  leave  the  rest  of  it  unsaid.  Of  course, 
jj's  possible,  jjiat  I  may  not  see  all  things  in  their 
true  light.  Ah,  who  are  those  two  swells  ? — 
haven't  seen  them  before."  This  question  was 
asked  after  a  couple  of  young  men,  who  saluted 
Olive  very  graciously,  had  passed  by. 

"  They  just  came  yesterday,"  Olive  explained 
after  mentioning  their  names. 

"  Old  acquaintances,  I  suppose  ?'' 

"  Mr.  Wilkins  is  papa's  private  secretary,  and 
at  our  house  a  good  deal.  He  is  of  a  very  good 
family." 

"Ah.  Quite  a  favorite  with  Mr.  Kirkwood,  I 
dare  say." 

"  Papa  says  he's  very  bright  and  smart." 

"  It's  strange  how  many  wonderfully  smart  men 
there  are  in  the  world  nowadays,"  remarked 
Howard  with  something  suspiciously  like  a  tinge 
of  irony  in  his  voice. 

Olive  modestly  admitted  that  her  knowledge  on 
that  score  was  somewhat  limited,  but  instead  of 
deporing  the  fact  intimated  that  she  was  quite 
satisfied  as  it  was. 

Mr.  Estill,  for  some  reason,  chose  not  to  recog- 
nize the  significance  of  this.  But  during  the  re. 
mainder  of  the  interview  said  nothing  more  con- 
cerning his  own  worldly  disadvantages. 

When  he  strolled  homeward  from  the  Snow- 
flake  he  soliloquized,  sometimes  aloud.  "  I  might 


A   REBUKE,  AN    EPISODE,  AND  AN   ACCIDENT.    13! 

have  divined  it,"  he  muttered.  "Kirkwood  has 
no  need  of  me.  Claycourt  might  have  seen  that 
— but  he  never  stops  calmly  to  survey  anything. 
Not  that  he  aroused  any  hopes  or  expectations  in 
me.  But  supposing  he  had,  it  would  have  been 
the  same.  It's  quite  the  way  with  my  blighting 
luck.  Supposing  I  had  set  up  a  plan  to  get  in 
with  the  old  gentlemen,  gain  his  confidence,  make 
myself  indispensable  to  him,  and  finally  accept 
him  as  a  father-in-law — if  I  had,  see  what  a  lumpy 
lot  of  dough  my  cake  whould  have  been  turned 
into  by  this  smart  chap,  Wilkins,  if  that's  his 
name !  Shows  my  acumen  in  keeping  out  of  it, 
that's  all — I  wonder  if  Olive  really  cares  anything 
for  that  dapper  youth,  though  ?  She  appeared 
altogether  too  ready  to  speak  a  good  word  for 
him.  No  doubt  he  is  playing  his  cards  fine. 
Private  secretaryship  gives  him  great  advantages. 
I'll  have  to  ask  Claycourt  what  sort  of  chap  he  is. 
But,  hang  it!— what's  the  use?"  And  Mr.  Estill 
grew  provoked  at  his  own  wavering  inconsistency. 
He  stayed  at  the  cottage  all  the  afternoon,  try- 
ing to  persuade  himself  that  his  time  was  fully 
occupied,  and  that  he  wasn't  allowing  himself  to 
think  about  Miss  Kirkwood  at  all.  But  the  num- 
ber of  times  he  gazed  off  toward  the  inn  be- 
trayed his  inability  to  do  so ;  and  the  disappoint- 
ment that  he  felt  when,  upon  hearing  the  rustle 
of  a  dress  on  the  steps,  and,  looking  around 
eagerly,  found  it  was  only  Bessie  Medlock,  was 


132  A    SOUTHERN   HERITAGE. 

perfectly  absurd,  considering  his  assumed  indiffer- 
ence. 

He  was  not  in  the  least  sorry,  either,  when  the 
morning  came,  and  he  went  to  join  the  little  caval- 
cade at  the  Snowfiake.  It  was  a  glorious  morning, 
of  sunshine,  fragrance  and  dew,  heaven-created, 
with  the  celestial  imprint  fresh  upon  it.  And  they 
started  forth  as  merry  as  the  larks  that  were  soaring 
and  singing  above  them.  Up  the  road  that 
wound  around  a  mountain,  and  afforded  a  mag- 
nificent view  of  the  village,  and  the  valley  with  its 
streams  and  meadows  and  farm-houses,  they  went, 
drinking  in  the  glorious  morning  air,  and  ever 
now  and  then  breaking  into  a  chorus  of  rhapso- 
dies as  some  new  scene  suddenly  came  into  full 
view. 

Under  such  circumstances  little  note  is  taken 
of  time  or  distance.  After  awhile  a  descent  be- 
gan, the  uneven  road  winding  through  forests  and 
masses  of  ferns  and  undergrowth.  In  this  shade, 
and  being  much  occupied  with  mutual  entertain- 
ment, they  did  not  observe  for  some  time  that 
clouds  were  rising.  The  morning  failed  to  fulfil 
its  fair  promises.  The  sun's  radiance  became  ob- 
scured, and  not  long  afterwards  big  raindrops  be- 
gan to  rattle  down  upon  the  quiet  foliage.  As 
the  happy  party  rode  into  the  broad  valley  they 
viewed  this  unkind  threatening  of  the  clouds  with 
impatient  expressions  of  annoyance,  but  that 
did  not  disturb  the  oncoming  of  the  shower. 


A   REBUKE,  AN   EPISODE,  AND  AN   ACCIDENT.    133 

What  should  they  do  but  ride  faster  and  try  to 
discover  a  house  in  which  to  take  temporary  shel- 
ter. But  no  house  appeared,  and  ever  thicker 
pattered  the  relentless  raindrops. 

"  Mercy — goodness — are  we  going  to  get  soak- 
ing wet !"  exclaimed  the  young  ladies  distressfully; 
and  the  gallant  cavaliers  could  do  no  better  than 
reply  it  looked  quite  that  way. 

"  Ha,  ha,  a  smoke  !"  shouted  Claycourt,  who 
was  riding  ahead  with  Bessie  Medlock,  "  ride  fas- 
ter !" 

"  A  smoke — sure  enough,  a  smoke  ;  lay  whip  !" 
was  the  jubilant  response.  And  there  was  such 
a  clattering  of  iron  hoofs  over  the  stony  road 
as  it  had  never  known  before,  that  created  a  great 
flutter  of  surprise  through  the  wayside  foliage, 
and  made  the  modest  bluebells  fairly  jingle  with 
alarm  ! 

When  they  approached  they  found  their  guiding 
pillar  of  smoke  issuing — not  from  a  picturesque 
cabin,  but  from  a  stone  fireplace  constructed  in 
the  most  primitive  manner,  and  upon  which  rested 
an  ugly  black  kettle.  Close  by  was  a  dirty  square 
tent,  nearly  as  grimy  as  its  neighbor,  the  kettle  ; 
and  from  every  aperture  of  which  was  thrust  ahead 
in  harmonious  keeping  with  the  environment.  Be- 
hind this  was  a  smaller,  but  not  whiter,  tent,  and 
from  both  burst  several  lank,  grizzly  dogs,  that 
greeted  the  riders  with  a  most  ferocious  paroxysm 
of  barking.  It  was  a  gypsy  camp. 


134  A   SOUTHERN    HERITAGE. 

There  was  no  time  wasted  in  formal  introduc- 
tions. A  stout,  swarthy  man  emerged  from  the 
larger  tent,  to  whom  Estill  shouted,  "  Hello  Tom, 
we're  coming  in  with  you  out  of  the  rain  ;  "  and  a 
swarthy  woman  followed  half-way,  to  whom  Clay- 
court  exclaimed,  "  why,  hello,  Nan — it's  you  is  it  ? 
Take  these  ladies  in  under  shelter."  And  without 
waiting  for  invitation  or  agreement,  the  young 
ladies  were  lightly  swung  from  their  saddles  to 
the  protection  of  the  dripping  canvas.  Estill 
followed  with  them,  seeing  their  hesitation  and 
looks  of  fear,  while  Claycourt  and  Wilkinsput  the 
horses  under  a  rude  shed  that  served  for-the  gypsy 
stable.  In  a  very  few  minutes  the  whole  party 
were  packed  within  the  unimposing  structure  that 
served  for  the  gypsy  castle.  It  was  a  spacious  one 
for  three  or  four  persons,  but  for  nearly  a  score, 
the  greater  number  of  whom  were  just  plain,  aro- 
matic, unwashed  gypsies  it  was  not  exactly  the 
place  for  grace  and  comfort,  especially  for  exquisite 
young  ladies.  It  might  be  a  good  cure  for  a  cer- 
tain variety  of  romanticism,  but  it  was  unpleasant 
medicine. 

The  rain  pelted  the  flimsy  canvas,  and  leaked 
in  all  around.  At  times  it  appeared  to  cease  al- 
most, but  just  when  everybody  thought  that  it  was 
going  to  "  let  up,"  as  Mr.  Claycourt  poetically  ex- 
pressed it,  it  came  down  again  in  greater  floods  than 
ever  ;  and  those  who  had  stuck  their  heads  out  to 
look  for  clear  sky  (and  incidentally  to  get  a  breath 


A    REBUKE,  AN    EPISODE,  AND  AN   ACCIDENT.    135 

of  ungypsyized    atmosphere)    immediately   drew 
them  in  again. 

The  ladies  huddled  together,  with  their  hand- 
kerchiefs clasped  fondly  to  their  delicate  noses, 
and  waited  as  patiently  as  the  typical  young  lady 
might  be  expected  to  under  the  conditions. 

"  Gracious  me — what  is  it  smells  so  ?"  whis- 
pered Miss  Medlock. 

"  My,  how  should  I  know,"  answered  Miss  Kirk- 
wood  ruefully;  "take  care  there,  your  greasing 
your  dress  against  that  ham  !" 

"  So  I  am — oh,  dear  !"  and  Bessie  gathered  her 
skirts  very  close  about  her  plump  little  self. 
"  Suppose  we  should  catch  small-pox,  or  some- 
thing else  awful !  Think  there's  any  danger?" 

"  Don't  know.  I'm  feeling  faint  at  my  stomach 
now.  Do  you  think  that  little  fellow  there  has 
measles  ?" 

"  No,"  replied  Bessie,  after  a  rapid  examina- 
tion ;  "  just  dirt  spots.  Look  out,  don't  lean  back 
against  that  ugly — liver,  I  guess  it  is !  What  do 
you  suppose  they'll  ever  do  with  it — uh  !" 

"  S'h'h — don't  speak  so  loud — they'll  be  offended. 
Don't  you  think  it's  really  '  letting  up '  now,  Mr. 
Estill?" 

Mr.  Estill  stopped  teasing  the  youngster  with 
the  aforesaid  dirt-spots,  and  slipped  out  to  survey 
the  heavens. 

In  a  moment  he  sneaked  back  with  a  face  like 
a  chapter  out  of  Lamentations,  and  his  suffering 


136  A   SOUTHERN    HERITAGE. 

companions  knew  that  the  rainbow  was  not  yet 
athwart  the  sky. 

"  Must  be  rivers  of  it  to  come  yet !"  he  mur- 
mured, wiping  away  that  part  of  the  fall  that  he 
caught  inside  his  collar.  The  big  gypsy  ventured 
out  to  stir  the  contents  of  the  stew-kettle,  the  fla- 
vor from  which,  wafted  lightly  into  the  tent,  was 
so  tangible  as  to  appear  almost  visible.  When  he 
came  back  he  was  wet  and  fumy.  MissKirkwood 
heard  Estill  saying  something  in  an  undertone 
about  a  foul  and  pestilent  congregation  of  vapors ; 
which  sounded  very  like  a  quotation  from  some- 
thing, but  for  her  dear  life  she  couldn't  think  what 
it  was. 

Mr.  Claycourt,  acting  philosophically  in  the 
depths  of  misery,  took  a  cursory  inventory  of  his 
surroundings  :  Gypsies,  big  and  little,  dirty  and 
comfortable  ;  smoked  bacon  ;  cooking  utensils  ; 
barrel  of  something  sour  ;  box  of  mystery ;  straw 
beds ;  pigs'  livers  ;  odd  parts  of  gypsy  wardrobe — 
very  odd ;  dogs  ;  playing  cards,  in  an  advanced 
state  of  decomposition;  guns;  whips;  bag  of 
meal  ;  something  done  up  in  bundle  ;  a  sheepskin  ; 
bucket  of  tar  ;  bits  cf  harness,  etc.  Absence  of 
soap.  (Smells  not  catalogued.) 

"  Queerest  joint  I  ever  was  in,"  remarked  Mr. 
Claycourt,  meditatively. 

The  other  gentlemen  offered  no  exceptions,  and 
Miss  Kirkwood  made  a  mental  observation  that 


A   REBUKE,  AN    EPISODE,  AND  AN   ACCIDENT.    137 

she  had  now  learned  what  sort  of  place  a  "  joint  " 
was. 

Nan  bustled  around,  not  looking  half  as  pict- 
uresque, and  sadly  shorn  of  her  colors.  She  of 
course  was  anxious  to  unfold  destiny  again,  in 
ample  quantities,  but  the  visitors  were  too  much 
engrossed  with  the  oppressive  now  to  take  any  in- 
terest in  it.  And  finding  there  was  no  chance  for 
industry  in  that  line  she  soon  fell  to  beating  up  a 
most  bewildering  sort  of  batter  in  a  wooden  bowl. 

"  There,  it  has  stopped  !"  exclaimed  Miss  Kirk- 
wood,  appearing  to  come  out  of  something  like  a 
swoon  ;  "  there  isn't  a  patter."  There  was  a  rush 
made  for  the  hole  in  the  canvas,  and  the  joyous 
shouts  and  exclamations  that  followed  their  exit 
attested  the  truth  of  Olive's  assertion.  The  rain 
had  ceased,  and  there  were  great  patches  of  blue 
sky  visible. 

Heavens,  what  a  relief !  Fresh,  out-of-doors  air, 
never,  never  seemed  half  so  good  before  !  The 
horses  were  brought  out,  to  the  windward  side  of 
the  stew-kettle,  which  now,  alas  !  fumed  fireless  ; 
the  big  gypsy  was  remunerated,  the  little  gypsies 
conciliated  with  small  coins,  and  the  party 
mounted ;  while  at  that  instant  it  seemed  as  if  some 
celestial  hand  must  have  touched  a  concealed  but- 
ton in  the  solar  system,  for  the  gorgeous  sunlight 
burst  forth  and  glorified  the  earth. 

This  was  the  most  luxurious  moment  of  the 
excursion.  The  birds  sang  as  if  they  were  ex- 


138  A   SOUTHERN    HERITAGE. 

pected  to  make  music  for  everything  alive,  the 
chipmunks  chattered,  and  there  was  a  smell  of  ex- 
quisite fragrance  from  the  freshened  foliage. 

"  Did  anyone  ever  experience  such  a  delightful 
change!"  exclaimed  Miss  Kirkwood.  "What 
rapid  transformations  we  have  undergone  within 
an  hour !" 

"  It  almost  seems  like  coming  out  of  a  horrid 
nightmare,"  said  Miss  Medlock ;  "I'm  sure  I'll 
go  through  it  again  sometime  in  an  ugly  dream." 

"  Such  an  emancipation  is  much  like  an  apo- 
theosis," Mr.  Estill  remarked,  and  although  it 
sounded  somewhat  ponderous,  everybody  admit- 
ted that  it  described  their  sensation  exactly. 

"  It  was  really  unfortunate,  though,  to  have 
our  jolly  ride  interrupted  by  such  a  deluge,"  com- 
plained Claycourt. 

"  I  think  you  are  very  unappreciative,"  re- 
sponded his  pretty  cousin  reprovingly ;  I  don't 
think  one  of  us  should  be  sorry  a  minute.  I 
think  it  was  a  jolly  lark — now  that  it  is  over,  and 
the  disagreeable  captivity  of  a  few  minutes  added 
to  our  power  of  enjoying  sunshine  and  freedom. 
Indeed,  I  believe  we  should  feel  very  thankful  to 
Providence." 

'•I  stand  corrected — a  very  pious  amendment," 
replied  Claycourt  meekly.  Mr.  Estill  said  noth- 
ing, but  meditated  that  it  was  exactly  like  his 
Aunt  Ordlaw,  and  Sister  Florence  ;  and  that  after 
all,  it  was  a  beautiful  spirit  in  woman  ;  skeptic  as 


A   REBUKE,  AN    EPISODE,  AND  AN   ACCIDENT.    139 

he  was,  Miss  Kirkvvood  could  not  have  said  any- 
thing more  pleasing  to  him. 

In  the  earlier  part  of  the  ride  Howard  had  a 
horse  that  showed  considerably  more  mettle  than 
any  of  the  other  mounts.  Olive  had  admired 
him,  and  regretted  that  her  own  steed  was  not 
equally  high-spirited. 

"I  fear  you  would  find  it  very  tiresome  to 
manage  him,"  Howard  had  replied;  "for  he  needs 
to  be  held  close  in  check.  He  would  run  with 
the  least  bit  of  encouragement." 

"  I'm  sure  I  could  control  him,"  Olive  asserted. 
"  I  used  to  ride  father's  Selim,  and  he  was  awfully 
high-spirited." 

Howard  admitted  that  she  was  an  accomplished 
horse-woman  ;  and  before  re-mounting  at  the 
camp  he  had  her  saddle  transferred  to  his  eager 
charger,  whose  ardor  he  thought  had  been  some- 
what abated  by  the  morning's  exercise. 

Olive  was  delighted  with  the  exchange.  Con- 
fident of  her  position,  and  aware  that  her  skill 
and  courage  would  appear  admirable  to  Mr. 
Estill,  she  kept  her  seat  proudly. 

All  went  well  for  a  mile  or  two,  but  gradually 
the  party  became  separated,  Estill  and  Miss 
Kirkwood  taking  the  lead.  It  was  not  long 
before  the  mettlesome  animal  discovered  that  he 
was  much  more  master  of  the  situation  than 
with  his  former  rider,  and  when  held  to  a  slow 
pace  frisked  around  accordingly.  Howard  kept 


140  A   SOUTHERN   HERITAGE. 

close  beside,  not  at  any  time  entirely  without 
anxiety. 

At  length  they  forded  a  wider  stream  than 
those  which  they  had  previously  crossed,  and 
coming  out  of  the  water  the  pebbly  road  for  a 
short  distance  led  up  a  steep  bank.  While 
ascending  here,  Olive  imprudently  touched  her 
horse  with  her  whip.  It  was  like  touching  off  a 
charge  of  powder  by  electricity.  He  made  a 
quick  plunge  forward,  and  was  off  like  a  shot, 
the  bit  between  his  teeth,  and  his  slender  rider 
entirely  at  his  mercy.  No  antics,  or  undignified 
kicking,  but  a  straight  racing  dash,  that  is  much 
better  to  be  taken  on  a  clear  track  than  over 
rough  and  uncertain  mountain  roads. 

Estill  applied  his  whip  and  made  a  sturdy  effort 
to  keep  even  pace,  but  in  a  moment  found  that 
he  was  being  left  far  behind.  The  fear  that  seized 
him  was  almost  sickening.  He  thought  of  the 
rocky  and  uneven  roads,  places  made  dangerously 
slippery  by  the  recent  rain,  possible  precipices, 
fatality ! 

"  My  God,  why  did  I  place  her  in  such  peril !" 
he  exclaimed  in  the  bitterness  of  self-censure. 

There  were  numerous  turns  in  the  road,  and 
Miss  Kirkwood  in  her  unwilling  flight  was  soon 
lost  to  view.  At  first  she  tried  very  hard  to  stop 
her  horse,  but  all  her  strength  counted  as  nothing. 
It  seemed  as  if  she  might  as  well  have  tried  to 
check  a  runaway  locomotive.  Her  arms  ached, 


A    REBUKE,  AN    EPISODE,  AND   AN   ACCIDENT.    141 

and  she  never  before  in  any  situation  felt  so  puny 
and  helpless.  The  trees  sped  by  almost  at  a  dizzy 
rate.  Now  the  clattering  of. metal  hoofs  upon 
rock  and  pebble  was  frightful,  and  now  they 
splashed  most  recklessly  through  muddy  pools 
and  ruts.  The  on-rushing  steed  was  not  the  least 
bit  particular  about  picking  his  way;  and  at  the 
moment  of  her  greatest  danger  Olive,  as  she  felt 
a  slushy  shower  descending  upon  her,  was  not 
unmindful  of  its  effect.  "  What  an  awful  sight 
I  will  be — and,  oh,  my  new  habit  !"  she  thought, 
with  truly  feminine  characteristic,  strong  even  in 
peril. 

Then,  despairing  of  force,  she  tried  coaxing  ; 
called  the  beast  pet  names,  told  him  sympathetic- 
ally to  whoa,  and  in  reassuring  tones  begged  him 
not  to  frighten  !  But  that  appeared  equally  in- 
effectual. She  brushed  furiously  against  over- 
hanging twigs,  still  laden  with  the  new-fallen 
raindrops.  At  times  she  leaned  quickly  forward 
to  avoid  apparent  danger  of  being  dashed  against 
some  sturdy  bough  that  stretched  far  over  the 
roadway.  Once  for  an  instant  she  saw  a  wide 
brook  before  her,  and  was  seized  with  an  appre- 
hension of  being  plunged  into  it  and  drowned,  but 
almost  before  the  thought  had  time  to  become 
a  fear,  the  ground  seemed  to  be  lost  beneath 
her,  she  had  a  momentary  sensation  of  delirious 
flight ;  the  hoof-beats  broke  again  upon  the  peb- 
bles, and  the  streamlet  flowed  behind  them. 


142  A   SOUTHERN    HERITAGE. 

She  passed  a  log-cabin  that  snuggled  close  at 
the  foot  of  a  hill,  a  few  rods  from  the  thorough- 
fare. A  zigzag  fence  ran  in  front  of  it,  with  a 
pair  of  bars  instead  of  a  gate,  upon  which  a 
scythe  was  left  hanging  carelessly.  A  couple  of 
frowsy  children  played  dangerously  near,  which 
Olive  remarked  in  passing.  The  cabin  door  was 
open.  Inside  there  was  a  table,  with  a  woman 
kneading  b'read  upon  it,  her  sleeves  rolled  up 
nearly  to  her  shoulders.  Upon  the  pegs  outside 
the  door  hung  a  dish-pan,  and  one  or  two  other 
utensils  of  tin,  near  which  was  some  kind  of 
animal  skin  tacked  against  the  wall  to  dry.  Over 
the  upper  part  of  the  cabin  window  was  a  paper 
shade,  with  large  flowery  figures,  and  upon  the 
sill  were  some  dishes. 

All  this  Miss  Kirkwood  clearly  observed  in 
a  moment  as  she  sped  by,  and  every  detail  of 
the  scene  was  perfectly  photographed  upon  her 
memory. 

She  saw,  too,  the  woman  glance  out  of  the  door 
at  her  with  an  expression  of  dull  amazement, 
the  children  peep  through  the  bars  with  open- 
mouthed  wonder,  some  speckled  chickens  scam- 
per through  the  fence  in  noisy  alarm,  and  a 
pretty  calf  browsing  on  a  grass-plot  near  by. 

The  sound  of  her  approach  was  the  signal  for  a 
couple  of  lank,  grizzly  curs  to  bound  out  into  the 
road,  barking  as  if  they  intended  to  devour  alive 
whatever  was  coming,  no  matter  how  formidable. 


A   REBUKE,  AN   EPISODE,  AND  AN   ACCIDENT.    143 

They  came  at  the  dashing  steed  like  a  brace 
of  famished  wolves;  he  gave  one  scornful,  vigor- 
ous kick  as  he  passed  ;  there  was  a  responsive 
breaking  of  a  canine  neck,  and  the  poor  cabin- 
dweller  had  one  dog  less  to  feed  from  his  meagre 
larder  that  day. 

Finding  that  all  her  efforts  were  futile,  Olive 
could  only  keep  her  seat  as  courageously  as 
possible,  and  hope  for  an  early  finish.  At  length 
there  came  a  feeling  of  reassurance,  as  she  noticed 
that  the  runaway  was  beginning  to  pant.  Steady, 
old  fellow — you'll  get  tired  of  this  after  a  little ! 
It's  not  so  easy  running  in  the  mud,  and  your  track 
has  been  very  heavy.  Olive  saw  that  his  pace 
was  slackening,  and  ventured  to  glance  behind  to 
discover  if  her  escort  was  near.  At  this  moment 
a  declivity  in  the  road,  which  now  led  over 
smoother  ground,  was  reached.  For  the  first 
time  the  horse  missed  his  footing.  The  spot  was 
slippery.  Olive  felt  him  stagger  and  plunge 
downward — felt  herself  hurdled  violently  from 
the  saddle  and  dashed  to  the  ground  ;  there  was 
a  shock  of  pain,  and  darkness  ! 

Howard  Estill  heard  the  barking  of  dogs  in 
the  distance,  and  rightly  guessed  that  it  was  at 
the  runaway  horse.  Riding  at  the  fullest  speed 
attainable,  he  in  turn  passed  the  cabin,  but  ob- 
served neither  open  doorway,  nor  bars,  nor 
astonished  human  gazers — scarcely  heard  or 
heeded  the  disturbing  growls  of  an  angry  dog. 


144  A   SOUTHERN   HERITAGE. 

He  came  into  an  open,  where  the  roadbed  was 
more  yielding,  and  grass  grew  more  luxuriantly 
by  the  way.  Peering  ahead  with  anxious 
intensity,  now  leaning  quickly  to  the  right, 
and  again  to  the  left,  and  now  rising  high  in 
the  stirrups,  to  gain  advantage  of  view,  his  eyes 
suddenly  rested  on  the  still  form  of  Olive  Kirk- 
wood  lying  but  a  few  yards  away.  Springing  from 
his  horse,  he  approached  her,  trembling  with  the 
shock  of  grief  and  pain.  Her  dress  and  hair  were 
dishevelled.  She  was  motionless.  He  turned 
her  face  to  him — it  was  white.  He  raised  her 
tenderly  in  his  arms. 

"  Oh,  dear  heaven  !  is  she  killed  ?  is  she  killed  ? 
Beautiful  darling,  you  can  not  be  dead — no,  no, 
you  can  not  be  dead  !"  He  chafed  her  hands  and 
smoothed  back  her  hair.  Olive  moved  and 
groaned. 

"  No,  no  darling,  you  are  not  dying  ;  you  must 
not"  die;"  and  running  to  a  brook  not  far  away, 
he  carried  water  in  his  hands,  bathing  her  face 
refreshingly. 

"Oh,  help  me,"  she  exclaimed  at  last, 'and 
Estill  redoubled  his  exertions  to  restore  her  to 
life.  In  a  moment  more  she  opened  her  eyes, 
gazed  into  Howard's  face,  and  sobbed.  "You  are 
so  good,"  she  said,  speaking  with  scarcely  audible 
voice. 

"Thank   heaven,   you  are  .not  dying,  darling ! 


A   REBUKE,  AN    EPISODE,  AND  AN   ACCIDENT.    145 

You  do  know  me,  poor  girl ! — then  forgive  me, 
won't  you — sweet  girl,  won't  you  forgive  me  ?" 

He  held  her  gently  in  his  arms;  he  felt  the  faint 
pressure  of  her  hand,  that  had  been  lying  so  life- 
less in  his,  and  repeating  her  name  again  and 
again,  he  kissed  her  white  face  in  a  transport  of 
gladness. 

"  I  am  so  glad  ...  it  has  happened  so," 
she  replied,  smiling  faintly  at  last.  "  Oh,  if  you 
had  not  come — you  won't  leave  me  ?" 

"  No,  never  fear — never  fear  of  my  leaving  you, 
sweet  girl — my  darling  ;  "  and  as  he  spoke  he  felt 
the  more  rapid  beating  of  her  happy  heart. 

Miss  Kirkwood  was  not  seriously  hurt,  but  had 
been  stunned  to  insensibility.  When  the  remain- 
der of  the  party  came  up  they  found  her  reclining 
on  a  grassy  knoll  where  Mr.  Estill  had  gallantly 
spread  his  coat,  as  the  warm  sun  had  not  yet 
dried  the  ground.  Howard's  horse  stood  close 
by,  bearing  evidence  in  his  looks  of  having  been 
violently  exercised. 

"  Ho,  there,  what's  up?"  shouted  Claycourt  as 
he  discovered  the  situation. 

"  Accident,  don't  you  see  !  Miss  Kirkwood's 
horse  ran  away — but  she's  all  right  now,"  Estill 
answered. 

There  was  such  a  chatter  of  surprises  and  such  a 
fire  of  interrogations  for  a  minute  or  too  that  no- 
body succeeded  in  acquiring  much  information 
concerning  the  mishap.  Olive  tried  several  times 


14(5  A   SOUTHERN    HERITAGE. 

to  explain,  but  was  a  good  deal  confused,  just 
yet,  and  didn't  feel  any  too  strong,  either. 

"  You  don't  say  that  horse  ran  away!"  ex- 
claimed Bessie  Medlock  ;  really,  did  he  run  ?" 

"No,"  replied  Olive,  looking  at  her  piteously, 
"  no— he  flew  !" 

"  Why  didn't  you  hold  him  in  ?"  queried  Clay- 
court,  looking  down  upon  her  in  a  stupid  sort  of 
astonishment. 

"  Now,  look  here,  Claycourt,  don't  be  a  blanked 
idiot !"  Estill  blurted  out,  momentarily  losing 
his  patience. 

In  spite  of  this  suggestive  admonition  there 
followed  questions  as  to  the  whereabouts  of  the 
naughty  horse,  and  wondering  how  they  ever 
were  going  to  get  the  unfortunate  heroine  home. 
Bessie  Medlock  was  equal  to  the  occasion.  "  It 
is  only  about  two  miles  from  here,"  she  said  ;  "  I 
will  walk,  and  Miss  Kirkwood  can  take  my 
horse." 

This  Miss  Kirkwood  objected  to,  of  course,  but 
Bessie  said  she  "  would  just  as  lief  walk  as  not, 
as  she  had  often  come  out  that  far  just  rambling, 
and  Miss  Kirkwood  would  catch  her  death  on  the 
damp  ground,  and  it  would  take  too  long  to  go 
home  for  a  carriage." 

When  she  finished  there  were  very  few  objec- 
tions left,  and  Claycourt  concluded  that  he  would 
enjoy  a  walk  back,  also. 

Although    the  mounted  party  rode  slowly,  the 


A   REBUKE,  AN   EPISODE,  AND  AN   ACCIDENT.    147 

infantry  showed  no  disposition  to  keep  up,  and 
was  so  late  after  the  cavalcade  in  arriving  at  the 
village,  that  it  was  feared  a  rescuing  band  must 
be  sent  out. 

"  Major,"  asked  Claycourt  seriously,  when  they 
arrived  at  the  Snowflake  and  found  that  the  run- 
away horse  had  brought  up,  whole  bones,  at  the 
stable,  "what  sort  of  fiery,  undisciplined  quadru- 
ped do  you  call  that,  anyway?" 

"  That,"  replied  the  major  proudly,  "  is  a  Ken- 
tucky thoroughbred,  and  a  racer  from  away  back. 
Got  a  little  broken  down  and  short-winded  for  the 
track,  so  I  put  him  in  the  livery.  Intended  to 
speak  of  it  before  you  left,  but  knew  you  could 
ride  anything  with  a  back.  He's  a  bird,  ain't 
he?" 


148  A   SOUTHERN   HERITAGE. 


CHAPTER  IX. 

A   PRACTICAL   CONSULTATION. 

MR.  ESTILL'S  feelings  when  he  left  the  Snow- 
flake  that  day  were  strange  and  conflicting.  He 
had  a  hundred  times  more  to  think  about  than  a 
few  hours  before,  and  all  brought  around  by  his 
exchange  of  horses  with  Olive  Kirkwood  at  the 
gypsy  camp.  Was  he  regretful  ? 

Howard  could  not  even  answer  that  question 
with  entire  satisfation  to  himself.  So  far  as  his 
heart  was  concerned,  there  was  nothing  that  he 
could  wish  undone.  Whatever  doubt  he  felt  was 
of  the  head — a  question  of  whether  he  had  acted 
wisely.  Nothing  could  have  been  more  acci- 
dental or  impulsive.  He  had  endeavored  to  be- 
lieve that  the  love  he  felt  for  Olive  was  only  a 
sudden  infatuation,  and  that  her  fancy  for  him 
would  scarce  outlast  the  summer.  When  he 
knew  that  she  was  in  peril,  his  whole  nature  was 
aroused,  and  when  he  thought  her  dead  his  agony 
taught  him  how  dear  she  was  to  his  heart. 

His  thoughts  were  busy  not  only  about  Olive, 
but  about  Mr.  Kirkwood  and  his  interesting  inva- 
lid of  a  wife.  There  was  more  than  curiosity 


A    PRACTICAL   CONSULTATION.  149 

about  them  now.  His  forebodings,  it  must  be 
admitted,  were  greatest  when  he  contemplated 
the  characteristics  of  his  prospective  mother-in- 
law.  Judging  from  his  observations  thus  far,  he 
could  not  assert  truthfully  that  she  was  exactly 
the  sort  of  person  he  would  have  selected,  out  of 
free  choice,  for  the  relation,  say,  of  grandmother 
to  the  children  he  might  some  day  be  blessed 
with.  Nevertheless,  other  considerations.  .  .  . 

There  was  no  use  debating  the  question  any 
longer,  he  must  gain  the  confidence  and  good 
will  of  Mr.  Kirkwood.  In  the  absence  of  better 
prospects  the  scheme  proposed  by  the  volatile 
Mr.  Claycourt  seemed  well  nigh  indispensable. 

When  he  related  the  experiences  of  the  morn- 
ing to  Florence  and  Mrs.  Ordlaw  he  said  nothing 
about  his  declaration  of  eternal  fealty  to  Miss 
Kirkwood,  but  there  was  something  in  his  words 
and  manner  that  led  them  to  suspect  the  truth. 

The  next  person  he  met  from  the  inn  was 
Blake  Harrell.  He  also  was  a  person  whom 
Howard  desired  to  know  more  about,  and  accord- 
ingly set  at  work  trying  to  draw  him  out.  Mr. 
Harrell,  who  had  not  found  Estill  very  chatty 
upon  previous  occasions,  was  half  surprised  to 
discover  how  conversable  he  could  be  when  in  the 
proper  spirit.  But  Mr.  Harrell  was  not  as  com- 
municative as  he  was  suave. 

"  I  presume  you  have  heard  how  Miss  Kirkwood 
is  this  morning,"  Howard  asked. 


150  A   SOUTHERN    HERTTAGE- 

"  Oh,  yes,  I  believe  Mr.  Kirkwood  said  she 
was  comfortable.  It  is  such  a  delightful  morning 
that  I  have  been  strolling  since  breakfast.  I  am 
very  fond  of  walking  in  the  country — strange  how 
a  city  man  who  must  ride  if  he  has  to  go  three 
squares  will  trudge  for  miles  over  a  country  road 
when  he  doesn't  have  to  go  anywhere." 

44  Vast  difference  in  scene  and  atmosphere," 
replied  Estell.  "  Ah,  I  presume  Mrs.  Kirkwood 
is  feeling  comfortable,  too?" 

"Indeed,  I  think  probable  —  think  I  heard 
nothing  unfavorable.  You  intend  to  spend  the 
summer  here,  I  presume  ?" 

"No ;  only  a  few  days  longer.  You  are  an  old 
friend  of  the  Kirkwoods',  I  imagine  ?" 

"  Not  particularly — known  them  some  time — 
pleasant  family.  Everybody  knows  Kirkwood." 

"  So  it  seems.  Very  popular  man,  I  should 
suppose.  Mrs.  Kirkwood  prominent  society 
figure,  I  believe?" 

"  Well,  I  think  she  is,"  responded  Mr.  Harrell, 
as  if  he  was  not  thoroughly  familiar  with  the 
subject.  "  Unfortunate  in  way  of  ill-health,  you 
observe.  Claycourt's  a  capital  fellow,  eh  ?" 

"  First-rate  chap,  Floyd  is.  Don't  know  just 
how,  but  I  got  the  idea  when  I  came  up  here  that 
you  were  related  to  the  family." 

"  Oh,  not  remotely." 

"  So   Claycourt   told    me.     Impression    caught 


A   PRACTICAL   CONSULTATION.  151 

from  seeing  you  on  intimate  terms  with  them,  no 
doubt.  You  came  over  with  them  ?" 

"  The  same  day,  I  believe.  Heard  it  was  a 
charming  spot,  and  came  to  see.  Not  disap- 
pointed— though  it  grows  somewhat  monotonous 
during  the  day.  You  find  it  so,  no  doubt,  eh?" 
And  after  ten  minutes'  conversation  of  similar 
tenor  Estill  knew  about  as  much  concerning 
Harrell's  position  toward  the  Kirkwoods  as  he 
did  before. 

He  observed,  too,  in  conversing  with  Olive  that 
very  little  information  was  volunteered  on  that 
topic.  Mrs.  Kirkwood  treated  Harrell  at  times 
like  a  servant,  and  at  other  times  as  one  whom 
she  cherished  the  strongest  esteem  for.  In  spite 
of  himself,  Howard  Estill  felt  an  aversion  toward 
the  man,  and  instinctively  questioned  the  honesty 
of  his  character. 

A  few  days  flew  rapidly  by.  Miss  Kirkwood 
recovered  from  the  effects  of  her  accident,  and 
Mrs.  Kirkwood  grew  more  gracious  to  Howard 
when  he  called.  It  was  fortunate  that  she 
thought  well  of  him  from  the  first  meeting,  for 
she  had  very  little  policy  in  the  way  of  conceal- 
ing her  dislikes,  which  Estill  subsequently  dis- 
covered were  by  no  means  few. 

Mr.  Kirkwood  was  to  return  to  the  city. 
Howard  decided  upon  going  in  his  company. 
Someway  he  had  not  found  a  very  convenient 


I$2  A   SOUTHERN    HERITAGE. 

opportunity  for  a  confidential  talk  with  him. 
This  would  be  just  the  occasion  for  it. 

After  all  the  talk  that  he  had  indulged  in  about 
idleness  and  frivolity,  it  was  really  a  very  un- 
pleasant thing  for  him  to  leave  Ayresboro — just 
twice  as  much  so  now  as  it  ever  had  been  before. 

Floyd  had  talked  of  taking  a  run  back  to  the 
city,  too,  but  upon  discovering  that  Estill  was 
calculating  on  talking  business  with  his  uncle* 
concluded  to  give  him  a  clear  field.  Olive  prom- 
ised to  go  and  see  Florence  frequently — and  not 
to  go  riding  again  on  Major  Derryberry's  broken- 
down  racer.  It  rained  the  morning  of  departure, 
and  that  made  it  all  the  more  depressing. 

Mr.  Kirkwood  proved  a  very  agreeable  travelling 
companion.  He  had  an  abundance  of  excellent 
cigars,  some  reminiscences,  and  a  whole  volume 
on  great  enterprises.  There  were  schemes  for 
land  syndicates,  mining  corporations,  improvement 
companies,  and  leans,  and  refundings,  and  fore- 
closures, that  made  Mr.  Kirkwood  appear  to  be 
a  very  great  operator,  indeed  ! 

"  With  the  opportunities  of  this  age,  and  the 
facilities  and  resources  of  this  country,  it  seems 
as  if  every  man  of  ability  should  accumulate  a 
competence,  if  not  wealth,  in  a  few  years,"  re- 
marked Estill. 

"True,  true,"  replied  Mr.  Kirkwood.  "But 
every  man  is  not  awake  to  the  opportunities. 
That's  the  part  of  a  genuine  financier.  Almost 


A   PRACTICAL   CONSULTATION.  153 

any  fellow  can  make  money  if  some  genius  puts 
the  chances  right  before  him." 

"  Misfortune,  or  lack  of  training  for  business 
life,  puts  many  at  disadvantage,  however,"  pro- 
tested Howard  ;  "  my  own  case  is  an  example  of 
it." 

"Oh,  well,  you're  young  yet,"  remarked  Mr. 
Kirkwood,  without  appearing  the  least  bit  affected 
by  Estill's  plaintive  hint. 

"  Of  course,  and  at  just  the  time  of  life  to  be 
doing  something.  Youth  doesn't  last  always,  and 
of  what  use  are  opportunities  if  they  come  when  a 
man  is  ready  for  the  grave." 

"  Umphe,"  assented  Mr.  Kirkwood.  Not  a 
particularly  encouraging  remark,  but  Estill  con- 
tinued— 

"  A  man  can  never  know  what  he  is  capable  of 
till  he  has  tried  himself.  I  have  often  wondered 
just  what  I  am  good  for — or  rather  what  I  am 
best  for.  Fact  is,  I've  been  somewhat  the  victim 
of  circumstances — " 

"  How  so?"  asked  Mr.  Kirkwood,  glancing  at 
him  keenly,  as  if  he  were  not  entirely  satisfied  as 
to  that  statement. 

"  All  owing  to  the  war,"  Estill  replied  ;  "  you 
heard  the  story  a  few  days  ago." 

Mr.  Kirkwood  admitted  that  the  war  had  been 
a  most  disastrous  calamity,  a  great  destroyer  and 
disorganizer.  He  did  not  expatiate  much  on  the 
subject — snapped  it  off  in  short  phrases.  Estill 


154  A   SOUTHERN   HERITAGE. 

gradually  worked  himself  into  a  talking  mood,  the 
great  financier  listening  composedly  and  smoking 
continually.  He  didn't  enter  at  first  as  much  in- 
to the  conversation  as  Howard  could  have  wished, 
and  the  latter  felt  grave  doubts  whether  he  was 
making  his  case  interesting. 

Finally  Estill  finished,  and  paused  to  hear  what 
comment  Mr.  Kirkwood  might  offer. 

"  Have  another  cigar,"  quoth  that  great  man. 
Estill    felt   somewhat    disappointed,    naturally 
enough,  but  was  not  in  the  mind  to  let  the  sub- 
ject rest  there. 

"Thanks,"  he  replied,  lighting  up,  and  assuming 
a  more  careless  manner.  "  It  isn't  often  that  I 
take  the  trouble  to  talk  like  this,  but  I  thought  it 
a  good  plan  to  give  you  an  outline  of  my  position 
and  hopes,  considering  the  circumstances  that 
have  arisen  during  the  past  ten  days.  You  know, 
Mr.  Kirkwood,  events  often  occur  in  the  most  un- 
expected manner — that  is,  the  most  unexpected 
events  sometimes  happen.  I  didn't  suppose,  when 
I  came  up  over  this  road  week  before  last,  that 
upon  going  back  I  would  find  it  my  duty  to  in- 
form you  that  your  daughter  Olive  and  I  have 
formed  a  strong  attachment  for  each  other." 

Mr.  Kirkwood  blew  an  unusual  cloud  of  smoke 
off  sideways,  and  nervously  threw  the  stub  of  his 
cigar  out  of  the  window.  Not  a  very  disturbing 
demonstration,  but  yet  quite  enough  to  show  that 
he  was  taken  off  his  guard. 


A   PRACTICAL   CONSULTATION.  155 

"  It's  something  I  hadn't  expected  to  hear,"  he 
said. 

"  I  need  not  say  that  I  trust  you  are  not  dis- 
pleased," Howard  resumed.  "  Indeed,  I  did  not 
suppose  the  intelligence  would  much  surprise  you. 
I  pledge  you  my  word  as  a  gentleman,  that  I 
really  strove  to  avoid  this — this — attachment,  as 
I  did  not  feel  that  my  position  in  the  world,  and 
prospects,  warranted  it.  Miss  Kirkwood  is  con- 
siderably younger  than  I  am,  and  could  not  be  ex- 
pected to — to  exercise  much  prudence,  and — and 
it  seems  that  I  wasn't  able  to  exercise  enough  for 
two." 

Mr.  Kirkwood  did  not  smile  here,  but  appeared 
seriously  occupied. 

"  I  should  like  to  know  if  we  have  your  benedic- 
tion or  your  censure,"  continued  Estill, 

"  Well,  has  it  advanced  as  far  as  that  ?"  asked 
Mr.  Kirkwood. 

"  I  think  it  has,"  Mr.  Estill  meekly  admitted. 
"  I  have  rot  asked  her  to  be  my  wife — I  should  not 
deliberately  have  gone  so  far  without  asking  your 
permission,  or — or  at  least  mentioning  the  matter 
to  you.  But  we  understand  each  other,  and  I  con- 
sider myself  pledged  to  her.  It  came  about  sud- 
denly— as  I  said  before,  unexpectedly.  That 
exexciting  ride  did  it — I  picked  her  up  uncon- 
scious— I  don't  know  exactly  what  I  said  before 
the  others  came  up,  but  I  said  it,  and  I  guess  that 
settled  it." 


156  A    SOUTHERN   HERITAGE. 

"  I  don't  know  that  there  is  any  very  good 
cause  for  displeasure,  Mr.  Estill,"  said  Mr.  Kirk- 
wood  deliberately.  "  It  has  been  my  habit  al- 
ways to  let  my  daughter  do  about  as  she  pleased. 
She  hasn't  caused  me  any  trouble  so  far,  and  if 
she  thinks  her  happiness  depends  upon  it,  go 
ahead." 

"  Thank  you,"  replied  Howard.  First  point 
gained.  After  mentally  crediting  himself  with 
the  score  he  went  on. 

"  Now  that  our  relations  are  amicably  estab- 
lished, I  want  to  hear  what  advice  you  can  offer 
me  in  the  way  of  business.  You  occupy  a  high 
position,  and  control  vast  opportunities." 

A-hem  !"  exclaimed  Mr.  Kirkwood  somewhat 
ominously. 

"  Don't  misapprehend  me,"  said  Howard  quick- 
ly. "  Whatever  I  get  in  this  world  I  want  to  earn. 
You'll  find  me  independent  enough,  Mr.  Kirk- 
wood." 

"  Oh,  that's  all  right,  that's  all  right,  my  boy. 
I  was  just  thinking — perhaps  I  might  do  some- 
thing for  you.  Ever  had  any  experience  in  bank- 
ing ".  . . 

"  No." 

"  Insurance?" 

"  No." 

"  Real-estate  ?" 

"No." 

"  Railroading?" 


A   PRACTICAL   CONSULTATION.  157 

"No." 

"  Prospecting  ?" 

"No." 

"  Loans,  discounts  ?" 

"No." 

"  The  devil !"  quietly  ejaculated  Mr.  Kirkwood, 
and  dropped  his  head  in  despair.  "  You  haven't 
got  much  to  unlearn,  have  you?" 

"  Strong  recommendation,  isn't  it?"  asked  How- 
ard. "  I  am  glad  there's  some  symptom  of  conso- 
lation about  it.  But  that  little  catechism  may 
make  me  appear  a  bigger  ignoramus  than  I  really 
am.  Technically  considered,  I  answered  truth- 
fully to  every  count,  but  they  are  not  all  Chinese 
to  me,  either.  I  learned  bookkeeping  on  a  Mis- 
sissippi steamboat,  looked  into  law  a  little  when  I 
was  chasing  my  lost  inheritance.  .  .  .  ' 

"Ahem  !"  (Mr.  Kirkwood  had  a  habit  of  doing 
this  effectively  sometimes.) 

"  Yes,  and  have  looked  over  records  enough  to 
get  an  inkling  of  conveyances.  Not  to  mention 
various  odd  things  that  I'm  generally  credited 
with  being  handy  at." 

"  Yes,  Claycourt  mentioned  a  few  of  them  to 
me,"  remarked  Mr.  Kirkwood,  remembering  his 
nephew's  enthusiastic  praise  of  Estill's  ability  in 
writing  sonnets  and  tying  scarfs. 

"  I  fear  Floyd  was  a  little  premature  in  bringing 
me  to  your  attention,  Mr.  Kirkwood.  He's  good- 
hearted,  and  evidently  takes  a  genuine  interest  in 


158  A   SOUTHERN   HERITAGE. 

me,  though  I  don't  want  you  to  think  I  abetted 
him  in  his  designs." 

"  Oh,  no,  no,  his  influence  is  not  ponderous, 
anyway.  But  what  do  you  think  you  could  learn 
to  do  ?" 

"  Anything  in  the  range  of  business,"  answered 
Estill,  promptly. 

"  Well,  that  sounds  assuring,"  said  Mr.  Kirk- 
wood. 

"  I  don't  calculate  on  having  to  learn  every 
detail — I  imagine  that  I  have  sense  enough  to 
comprehend  some  things  at  a  glance." 

"  Better  still." 

"  And  as  to  that,  I'm  not  seeking  for  the  care 
of  small  details — I  want  something  of  wider  scope." 

This  seemed  to  please  Mr.  Kirkwood  more  than 
any  thing  he  had  said  yet.  "  That's  right,"  he 
exclaimed.  "There  are  a  thousand  men  for  de- 
tails where  there  is  one  for  broad-gauge  enter- 
prise. It's  possible  you  may  be  among  the  units. 
If  you  are,  I  shall  have  more  than  room  enough 
for  you,  but — have  you,  eh,  any  means  at  all  at 
your  command?" 

"  Perhaps  a  hundred  or  so.  Oh,  I'm  usually  in 
easy  circumstances  financially,"  remarked  Estill 
dryly. 

"  So  it  seems — about  enough  for  a  day,"  said 
Kirkwood  in  a  soliloquizing  manner. 

"  When  I  wish  to  appear  opulent,  I  speak  of 
my  plantation  in  Alabama,"  added  Estill,  "  but 


A   PRACTICAL   CONSULTATION.  159 

it's  so  ghastly  sterile  that  they  hardly  assess  it  for 
taxes." 

"  Why  don't  you  plat  it  and  sell  it  off  in  town 
lots?" 

"  Bless  you,  there  an't  a  town  within  twenty 
miles  of  it." 

"  So  much  the  better — build  one  and  have  a 
monopoly." 

"Where  would  I  get  the  dear  people?"  asked 
Estill. 

"  Send  up  a  balloon,"  replied  Mr.  Kirkwood 
with  the  true  instinct  of  a  "  boom "  organizer. 
"  Invent  any  kind  of  fake  to  nail  the  attention  of 
the  gaping  multitude,  and  they  are  your  cattle," 
added  this  great  financial  authority,  with  more 
force  than  feeling. 

It  didn't  strike  very  pleasantly  upon  Estill's 
sympathies,  and  he  had  a  secret  hope  that  all  bus- 
iness was  not  conducted  upon  such  brutal  princi- 
ples. Nevertheless,  he  smiled,  and  said  that 
might  be  so. 

"It  is  so,"  insisted  Mr.  Kirkwood,  "and  let  me 
impress  that  fact  upon  you  at  the  start.  Take  it 
for  your  first  lesson,  and  if  you  learn  it  thoroughly 
the  rest  will  come  like  tricks  to  a  monkey.  You 
will  mount  high  upon  the  ladder  of  success." 

Howard  paid  close  attention  to  these  admoni- 
tions of  wisdom,  as  they  fell  from  the  lips  of  this 
much-emulated  man  of  affairs,  and  made  no  reply. 
But  in  his  heart  he  felt  that  he  would  rather  halt 


l6o  A   SOUTHERN    HERITAGE. 

somewhere  near  the  middle  rounds,  and  retain  a 
little  more  regard  for  humankind. 

"Now,  this  is  an  age  of  development,"  Mr. 
Kirkwood  went  on  to  say.  "  My  success  lies  in 
the  encouragement  of  it,  in  the  directing  of  capital, 
and  the  promotion  of  enterprise.  Perhaps  the 
next  generation  will  see  the  country  controlled  by 
corporations  and  combinations — looks  that  way 
from  my  present  point  of  view.  Doubtless  the 
next  generation  will  also  have  ten  millionaires 
where  there  is  one  now.  See  any  connection  ?" 

Estill  said  he  thought  he  did. 

"  Of  course  you  do,"  Mr.  Kirkwood  continued. 
"A  shrewd  observer  can't  miss  it.  Now,  that 
being  the  case,  what  should  a  financier  do  ?  Shape 
his  policy  to  the  tendency  of  the  times.  A  few 
men  get  rich — amass  millions  by  the  slow  process 
of  gradual  accumulations.  The  possibilities  in 
that  direction  are  few.  My  boy,  the  possibilities 
in  the  way  of  organizing  and  promoting  great 
joint-stock  companies  are  practically  unlimited. 
The  nation  is  recovering  from  the  shock  of  war, 
immigration  is  pouring  in,  natural  resources  are 
vast !  What's  going  to  happen  ?  A  great  revival 
of  general  business.  That  means  production  of 
wealth — but  that's  not  our  harvest — oh,  no  !  Pro. 
duction  of  wealth  means  general  prosperity — for 
a  time.  That  leads  to  an  era  of  speculation — and 
there  we  are,  my  boy.  Speculation  !  Great  rises 
in  values  !  Great  systems  of  railroads  to  be  built ! 


A   PRACTICAL   CONSULTATION.  l6l 

Fabulous  returns  for  small  investments — that's  the 
great  card,  my  boy!  Great  profits  from  small 
investments!  Then  the  public  grows  clamorous, 
and  there  must  be  competent  organizers  to  provide 
opportunities.  The  public  may  be  benefited — the 
organizer  and  promoter  has  a  dead  sure  thing ! 
You  see  the  situation?" 

"  Well,  yes.  Your  foresight  is  no  doubt  keen. 
But  I  think  the  days  for  John  Laws,  and  South 
Sea  schemes  are  past,"  remarked  Howard,  a  little 
dubiously. 

"  Perhaps  they  are,"  admitted  Mr.  Kirkwood 
promptly.  "  But  the  days  when  men  are  feverish 
for  a  snap,  don't  you  know — something  soft  and 
yielding — are  just  as  bright  and  propitious  now  as 
ever  they  were.  There  are  a  thousand  mines  to 
be  developed,  a  thousand  towns  to  be  built,  a 
hundred  railroads  to  be  constructed!  There  are 
territories  to  be  peopled,  manufactories  to  be 
established !  There  are  valuable  forests  in  Hon- 
duras, and  coffee  plantations  in  Brazil ;  guano 
beds  in  Peru,  and  sugar  plantations  in  the  Sand- 
wich Islands  !  Are  these  all  to  be  taken  care  of  by 
individual  capital  ?  Impossible  !  It  will  be  done 
by  joint-stock  concerns — corporations  !  The  joint- 
stock  company  is  the  coming  power!  The  plan 
is  beautiful !  They  will  control  commerce  and 
speculation  alike !" 

"  I  am  inclined  to  agree  with  you,"  Estill  re- 


162  A   SOUTHERN   HERITAGE. 

marked,  as  Kirkwood  paused  to  refresh  himself 
with  a  swallow  of  tonic. 

"You  can't  help  it.  Now,  what  does  the  man 
of  brains  and  energy  propose  to  do  about  it  ? 
Take  advantage  of  it,  of  course — promptly  get 
into  line — adapt  himself  to  the  growing  circum- 
stances. Last  year  I  projected  a  building  fund 
association — half  a  million  capital.  Put  in  my 
abilities,  placed  the  stock  properly,  got  myself 
elected  president  of  the  company,  now  control 
the  shares — those  who  an't  satisfied  let  go  and 
fall  out.  Works  beautifully,  you  see.  Just 
mention  this  for  an  instance.  Have  subscrip- 
tions open  now  for  stock  in  a  coal  company  in 
Indiana,  and  a  zinc  furnace  in  Missouri.  Bring  in 
ready  money.  After  first  dividends  we  make  an- 
other  issue  of  stock — see  the  possibilities  ?" 

Estill  listened  to  this  enthusiastic  lecture  upon 
finance  and  enterprise  till  he  became  convinced 
that  his  future  father-in-law  was  a  very  sharp  man, 
both  in  his  ideas  and  methods.  And  although  it 
was  not  all  quite  as  he  had  supposed  it  to  be,  the 
prospects  to  which  Mr.  Kirkwood  pointed  were 
very  allurifig.  He  always  dreaded  drudgery.  He 
would  be  relatively  free  from  it  in  this  promising 
field,  where  fluency  of  speech,  affability  of  man- 
ners and  faith-inspiring  address  were  chief  requi- 
sites. 

The  following  week  he  had  a  desk  in  Mr.  Kirk- 
wood's  elegantly-appointed  office. 


THE  CHARACTERS  AND  THE  DIALOGUE.    163 


CHAPTER   X. 

THE   CHARACTERS   AND   THE   DIALOGUE. 

Mr.  KlRKWOOD's  place  of  business  was  very  im- 
posing. There  was  much  beveled  plate  glass  and 
solid  furniture.  The  windows  were  wide,  and 
richly  adorned  with  large  letters  in  gold,  forming 
the  magic  words,  "  Bonds,  Stocks,  Mortgage, 
Banker,  Investment  Securities,"  etc. 

Howard  Estill  felt,  it  must  be  admitted,  that  he 
had  taken  a  very  important  step  upward  when  he 
found  himself  installed  therein,  with  a  comfort- 
able salary  assured  him,  and  a  promise  of  shares 
in  certain  incomes — as  soon  as  they  began  to  be 
realized  :  the  prospects  being  favorable. 

There  were  hundreds  of  other  offices  on  the 
street,  similar  in  appearance,  bearing  pretty  much 
the  same  legends  upon  their  windows  ;  and  a  great 
many  more  to  be  seen  upon  other  streets.  Estill 
had  never  taken  very  much  notice  of  them  before 
— they  all  go  to  make  up  streets.  But  when 
he  became  interested  in  the  occupation,  he  was 
led  to  wonder  whence  the  business  to  sustain  all 
these  expensive  offices  was  obtained,  and  from 
what  sources  the  profits  really  emanated.  None 


164  A   SOUTHERN   HERITAGE. 

of  them  created  anything — there  was  no  actual 
production. 

Indeed,  it  must  be  a  great  financial  centre  he 
was  in,  Mr.  Estill  thought.  Not  without  reason. 

Howard  gathered  experience,  from  close  obser- 
vation, quite  rapidly.  Stocks  and  bonds  became 
more  of  an  open  book  to  him.  And  mortgages  ! 
— well,  after  getting  an  insight  into  that  depart- 
ment, it  did  not  seem  as  if  there  could  be  a  strip 
of  earth  anywhere  in  this  free  and  progressive 
country,  cemeteries  and  Kansas  included,  that  did 
not  have  a  formidable  encumbrance  recorded 
against  it ! 

It  is  not  certain  whether  such  things  exert  any 
effect  in  particular  upon  love-making,  but  all 
combined  made  Howard  Estill  quite  a  busy  man. 
Olive  and  her  mamma  returned  from  Ayresboro 
early  in  September,  Mrs.  Kirkwood  somewhat 
disappointed,  of  course,  with  the  benefits  derived 
from  the  waters,  whose  effects  hardly  justified  the 
glowing  recommendations  contained  in  Major 
Derryberry's  prospectus.  However,  the  invalid's 
disposition  was  somewhat  improved,  and  that  was 
of  paramount  importance. 

Olive  was  happy  to  be  in  the  city  again.  How- 
ard, who  had  taken  occasional  trips  to  the  moun- 
tain resort  during  the  summer,  delighted  in 
observing  that  she  constantly  grew  more  beauti- 
ful, more  loveable ;  which  of  course  she  did  not  so 
much,  except  in  his  fervid  imagination.  Their 


THE   CHARACTERS   AND   THE   DIALOGUE.  165 

engagement  pleased  Mrs.  Kirkwood.  To  be  sure 
xshe  chided  Olive  not  a  little  for  being  such  an 
enthusiastic  little  dunce,  and  for  her  enraptured 
devotion,  which  she  assumed  to  tolerate  as  girlish 
folly,  and  lightly  to  commiserate. 

Nevertheless,  Howard  compelled  her  respect. 
She  found  him  interesting,  and  was  fond  of 
crediting  him  with  not  being  so  tiresomely  com- 
monplace as  most  men. 

"  Isn't  he  brilliant !"  Olive  would  exclaim 
rapturously. 

"  Oh,  it's  not  that,"  her  mamma  would  reply 
complacently.  "  He  doesn't  strive  for  effect — 
and  above  all  doesn't  try  to  be  amusing.  If  men 
only  knew  how  utterly  ridiculous  they  make 
themselves  when  they  try  to  be  funny  ! — but  of 
course  they  don't,  stupid  creatures  !" 

It  was  to  be  marvelled  at  that  she  seldom  ven- 
tured any  of  her  sarcasm  upon  him — possibly  be- 
cause he  did  not  afford  her  as  good  opportunity 
as  most  men.  When  Howard  declared  a  thing 
was  right,  Mrs.  Kirkwood  usually  subscribed  to 
the  opinion.  That  was  what  surprised  Mr.  Kirk- 
wood !  If  Howard  was  inclined  to  be  in  serious 
mood,  Mrs.  Kirkwood  would  not  ruthlessly  accuse 
him  of  trying  to  cultivate  an  interesting  air  of 
melancholy.  She  didn't  scoff  at  his  sentiment, 
what  there  was  of  it,  and,  indeed,  in  a  word,  was 
quite  well  satisfied  with  the  addition  to  her 
family  of  a  young  man  of  graceful  manners,  and 


l66  A   SOUTHERN    HERITAGE. 

distinguished  appearance.  She  might  have  in- 
cluded his  intelligence,  also,  but  that  was  a  ter- 
tiary consideration. 

Whether  Estill  was  equally  pleased  with  Mrs. 
Kirkwood,  may  easily  be  doubted.  He  could  not 
readily  get  rid  of  his  first  impressions.  He  dis- 
liked artificial  people.  But  he  consoled  himself 
in  some  degree  with  the  thought  that  she  did  not 
grow  worse  upon  more  intimate  acquaintance.  In 
more  than  one  respect  she  was  a  mystery  to  him. 
He  could  not  avoid  sympathizing  with  her  when 
she  complained  of  wretched  pains  and  nervous- 
ness, as  she  did  usually,  but  it  was  a  question  with 
him,  just  how  much  she  deserved  it. 

And  then  there  was  Blake  Harrell.     .     .     . 

Now  there  was  a  person  that  Estill  finally 
made  up  his  mind  to  hate.  He  seldom  called  at 
the  Kirkwood  mansion  that  he  did  not  find  Harrell 
there,  or  just  coming  away ;  or  that  he  had  just 
been  there.  Not  unfrequently  he  took  Mrs. 
Kirkwood  to  drive,  when  Mr.  Kirkwood  was  so 
closely  occupied  ;  and  when  they  went  to  the 
opera,  Harrell  was  pretty  sure  to  visit  their  box 
during  the  evening. 

One  day  he  said  to  Claycourt — "  Look  heret 
Floyd,  I  wish  you'd  tell  me  what  you  think  of 
that  fellow  Harrell  !  I  must  admit  that  he's 
somewhat  of  a  conundrum  to  me.  He  bothers 
me." 

"  Oh,  Harrell  an't  bad,  only  "— 


THE   CHARACTERS   AND   THE   DIALOGUE.  l6/ 

"  Only  what  ?" 

"  Why,  I  guess  he's  been  a  little  in  love  with 
my  aunt,  that's  all." 

"  That's  all !"  exclaimed  Estill. 

"  Yes.  Damned  fool,  of  course,  to  get  dizzy 
over  a  married  woman,  but  you  know  there's  no 
accounting  for  such  things." 

Howard  was  doubly  surprised — first,  to  dis- 
cover a  disagreeable  something  that  he  had  for 
sometime  tried  to  keep  himself  from  suspecting, 
and  secondly,  to  see  how  perfectly  indifferent 
Claycourt  appeared  about  it. 

"  I  should  think  Watson  Kirkwood  would  kick 
him  from  his  house,"  he  muttered. 

"Oh,  dear  boy,  that  would  be  an  awful 
mistake !  Think  of  a  dozen  newspapers  writing 
it  up  the  next  day  and  exaggerating  it  a  thousand 
per  cent — what  a  delicate  little  society  scandal 
that  would  make,  wouldn't  it  ?" 

"  Well,  there  are  enough  other  ways  to  dispose 
of  him — snub  him — give  him  a  cold  cut  ! — I  will!" 

"  Come,  it's  nothing  to  care  for.  Uncle  Wat 
doesn't  even  deign  to  notice  it.  And  Aunt — 
why,  she  laughs  at  him.  He  amuses  her.  You 
know,  that  aunt  of  mine  is  an  out-and-out  attract- 
ive woman,  if  she  has  been  an  invalid  a  dozen 
years.  Bless  your  soul,  old  chap,  this  ain't  the 
first  fellow  that's  been  struck  with  her — society 
mashes,  you  know  !" 


1 68  A   SOUTHERN   HERITAGE. 

"  It's  not  quite  according  to  my  ideas,"  re- 
marked Estill. 

"  Ah,  what's  the  good  of  being  puritanical ! 
Don't  you  know  half  the  married  women  in 
society  have  their  special  admirers  ? — sure.  The 
more  conquests  the  more  they  are  envied.  Ha, 
ha,  Harrell  will  get  over  it  soon  enough — I  im- 
agine Aunt  is  growing  tired  of  him  already." 

All  that  might  be  true,  Howard  admitted  ;  but 
there  was  a  great  deal  of  difference  between  hav- 
ing a  distant  admirer,  and  one  that  ....  Any^ 
way,  it  was  all  wrong ! 

That  was  the  only  conclusion  that  Estill  could 
arrive  at,  whichever  way  he  argued.  For  several 
days  he  pondered  over  it,  wondering  if  it  was  his 
duty  to  take  any  action  in  the  matter;  and  if  so, 
just  what  he  should  do.  He  had  never  pretended 
to  being  a  very  stern  moralist  .  .  .  and  then  he 
fell  to  soliloquizing,  as  to  how  a  circumstance  like 
this  might  have  affected  him  before  he  had  fallen 
in  love  with  Olive  Kirkvvood.  Supposing  Clay- 
court  had  told  him  of  Harrell's  admiration  for 
Mrs.  Kirkwood  before  he  had  known  any  of  the 
family — would  he  have  been  quite  so  much  dis- 
turbed over  the  disgraceful  aspect  of  the  case  as 
he  was  now  ?  Curious  conundrum.  Supposing 
any  gay-hearted  club  man  had  incidentally  re- 
marked to  him  three  months  before,  that  married 
women,  in  fashion  or  out  of  it,  delighted  in  mak- 
ing conquests — would  it  have  sounded  as  scanda- 


THE   CHARACTERS   AND    THE   DIALOGUE.   169 

lous  to  him  as  now  ?  Another  curious  conun- 
drum. 

Howard  was  frank  enough  with  himself  to 
admit,  that  in  all  probability  he  would  not  have 
been  very  much  shocked  at  the  intelligence — 
possibly  not  more  than  Claycourt  was  now. 
That  being  so,  it  was  interesting  to  contemplate 
the  change  in  his  moral,  or  spiritual,  or  sentiment- 
al, nature — which  was  it?  Moral,  no  doubt;  and 
what  was  the  cause  of  it  ?  Unquestionably,  the 
love  of  a  pure  and  innocent  girl.  If  Olive  Kirk- 
wood  had  so  refined  his  ethical  sensibilities,  he 
must  admit  that  there  was  something  of  a 
heavenly  nature  in  the  influence  of  woman's  love. 

One  day,  soon  after  his  conversation  with  Clay- 
court,  he  remarked  to  Olive — "  I  suppose  you 
have  noticed  that  I  treat  Harrell  with  unusual 
coolness?" 

"  Yes." 

"Well — I  don't  suppose  it  annoys  you  any  ?" 

"  No — that  doesn't.  But  I  am  pained  that  you 
should  think  there  is  any  cause  for  disliking  him." 

"  Perhaps  I'm  getting  finnicky  about  such 
things  as  I  grow  old,''  he  said  carelessly;  "  but  I 
can't  help  it.  I  wish  he  would  stop  coming 
here." 

"  I  know — you  fear  there  will  be  remarks  made 
about  it.  Well,  you  know  poor  mamma  was  al- 
ways a  favorite  in  society,  and  has  commanded 


I/O  A   SOUTHERN   HERITAGE. 

such  a  great  deal  of  attention,  that — that  no  one 
takes  any  notice  of  it." 

"  Likely  enough,"  Howard  replied. 

"  And  everybody  knows  Blake  Harrell.  He 
hasn't  anything  to  do  but  play  the  gallant,  and 
he's  been  coming  to  our  house  for  so  long.  -Any- 
way, I  don't  think  we  see  him  now  as  often  as 
awhile  back." 

"  I  wish  you  would  snub  him  entirely,"  said 
Howard  bluntly. 

"  It  would  be  so  embarrassing  to  do  that. 
Why  not  let  him  alone,  till — till  after.  .  .  " 

"  Till  after  we  are  married  ?  Very  well — don't 
worry  about  what  I  have  said.  A  fellow  takes  a 
dislike,  you  know,  sometimes;  and  I  can't  very 
well  conceal  it  in  this  case." 

As  he  left  the  house  he  fell  in  with  a  man  with 
whom  he  had  formed  a  passing  acquaintance  at 
the  club — a  gossipy  sort  of  fellow,  who  knew 
a  great  many  people,  likewise  their  weaknesses. 
Or  at  least  he  imagined  he  did,  which,  for  practical 
puposes,  was  just  as  bad. 

"  Living  in  this  neigborhood,  eh  ?"  asked  the 
club  man. 

"  No — just  calling." 

"  Ah,"  said  the  club  man,  glancing  back  at  the 
stone  fronts,  "at  the  McKennellses? — elegant 
family." 

"  No— at  Kirkwood's." 

"  Ah,   yes,    Kirkwood's,   to    be  sure.     Watson 


THE   CHARACTERS   AND   THE   DIALOGUE.  I /I 

Kirkwood's.  Very  popular  man.  Known  him  a 
good  many  years — always  liked  him.  Has  a. very 
stylish  wife — her  name's  been  familiar  in  society 
for  years — stunning  woman." 

"  Very  pleasant  lady,"  replied  Howard. 

"  Oh,  yes,  yes — and  very  attractive,"  continued 
the  male  gossip,  as  they  walked  down  the  avenue. 
"  Very  attractive — never  lacks  attention.  Get- 
ting along  in  middle  life  now,  but  she  has  been  a 
belle  in  her  day.  And  she  isn't  out  of  it  yet. 
Know  Harrell  ? — Blake  Harrell  ?  Fellows  say  he's 
dead  captivated  with  her — talked  about  a  good 
deal.  Rather  odd  for  a  roue  like  Harrell — but  of 
course  he  isn't  a  fool.  Shouldn't  wonder  if  .  .  ." 

"  I  beg  your  pardon,  my  dear  sir,"  interrupted 
Howard ;  "  I  am  quite  conversant  with  their 
family  affairs.  I  am  in  partnership  with  Mr. 
Kirkwood,  and  his  daughter's  engagement  to  me 
has  been  announced  some  time.  Good  day." 

Howard  entered  a  stage,  and  left  the  club 
gossip  standing  on  the  pavement,  looking  as  if  he 
had  just  suffered  a  stroke  of  idiocy. 

That  was  exactly  the  sort  of  talk  that  Estill 
had  dreaded.  There  was  only  one  thing  to  be 
done.  He  would  speak  with  Mr.  Kirkwood  about 
it,  and  if  necessary  inform  him  just  how  the  case 
stood. 

Mr.  Kirkwood  was  not  a  little  surprised  when 
Howard  broached  the  subject.  "  It's  the  worst 
nonsense  I've  heard  of  since  I've  been  married," 


172  A   SOUTHERN   HERITAGE. 

he  exclaimed,  his  manner  indicating  that  the 
assertion  implied  a  good  deal.  "  But,  bless  you, 
my  boy,  we'll  stop  it !  Damn  these  idle  numb- 
skulls— haven't  they  any  sense!  I  suppose  Edna 
has  been  rather  too  free  with  Harrell — but  it's 
her  way.  She  wouldn't  be  happy  if  there  wasn't 
some  one  around  to  flatter  her,  and  I've  never 
been  much  of  a  hand  for  that  myself." 

"  I  would  not  wish  to  question  her  prudence," 
continued  Howard,  "  but  I  am  convinced  that 
Harrell  is  not  a  man  that  you  should  have 
admitted  to  your  house  on  such  intimate  terms. 
Within  the  past  few  days  I  have  heard  some 
things  about  him  that  are  exceedingly  uncompli- 
mentary, to  draw  it  the  mildest." 

"Why — he  hasn't  been  talking,  has  he?" 
inquired  Mr.  Kirkwood  with  a.  good  deal  of 
temper. 

"  I  would  not  care  to  answer  that  in  the  affirm- 
ative," said  Estill.  "  In  fact,  it  has  been  a  very 
disagreeable  duty  for  me  to  mention  the  subject 
at  all.  But  I  think  lhat  I  can  say,  without  doing 
him  any  injustice,  that  he  lacks  the  honor  of  a 
gentleman." 

Mr.  Kirkwood  didn't  say  anything  more  to 
Howard,  but  Hopson  is  said  to  have  let  it  out, 
that  there  was  a  little  scene  when  he  arrived  in 
the  bosom  of  his  family  that  evening.  And  the 
fact  that  Mrs.  Kirkwood  was  "  worse  "  the  next 
day — that  is,  was  prostrated,  as  customary  after 


THE   CHARACTERS   AND   THE   DIALOGUE.   1/3 

unusual  excitement  or  expenditure  of  energy, 
tended  to  substantiate  the  hint. 

It  was  soon  whispered  about,  too,  that  Blake 
Harrell  and  Mr.  Kirkwood  had  had  a  misunder- 
standing, some  said  about  business  (accompanying 
the  remark  with  a  smirk  of  incredulity),  and  some 
others  said — well,  it  would  only  be  giving 
currency  to  unworthy  gossip  to  relate  what  some 
others  did  say. 

At  any  rate,  there  was  something  to  talk  about. 
Howard  Estill  did  not  hear  very  much  of  it,  but 
he  felt  instinctively  that  it  was  going  on. 

For  some  weeks  Lawyer  Murchison  had  not 
been  heard  from.  During  three  or  four  months 
immediately  following  his  first  appearance,  he 
had  called  frequently  upon  Howard,  each  time 
with  the  assurance  that  he  had  made  a  new  and 
startling  discovery  relating  to  the  lost  heritage, 
but  which  flattened  out  to  nothing  at  all,  after 
Howard  had  looked  into  it.  This  grew  to  be  a 
good  deal  of  a  nuisance,  especially  as  Mr.  Murchi- 
son did  not  possess  an  engaging  personality, 
always  carried  an  accumulated  odor  of  tobacco 
around  with  him,  and  was  exceedingly  tedious  in 
his  garrulity.  In  fact,  Lawyer  Murchison  was  a 
typical  old  fraud,  and  Howard  finally  determined 
to  suppress  him  altogether. 

But  one  morning  Mr.  Murchison  turned  up 
at  Mr.  Kirkwood's  offices,  and  desired  so  see 
Mr.  Estill. 


1/4  A   SOUTHERN   HERITAGE. 

"Tell  him  that  I'm  busy,  and  don't  want  to  see 
him,"  was  Howard's  blunt  instruction  to  the 
messenger.  In  a  moment  the  boy  returned  and 
began — 

"  Mr.  Murchison  says  tell  you  it's  unusually  im- 
portant information — " 

"  Say  to  him  that  I've  had  quite  enough  of  his 
'  important  information,'  and  don't  wish  to  be 
interrupted  again  !" 

Estill  supposed  that  would  settle  it  for  all  time  ; 
but  in  the  next  mail  came  a  letter  from  the 
insuppressible  lawyer : 

"  Your  action,  in  refusing  to  receive  me,  after  I 
had  taken  the  pains  of  calling,  does  not  seem  to 
me  quite  professional  or  business-like,"  began  Mr. 
Murchison  reprovingly,  "  and  is  not  such  as  a 
client  owes  to  the  dignity  of  his  counsellor.  I  wish 
you  to  call  and  consult  me  at  once.  You  will 
doubtless  see  that  it  is  to  your  interest  to  do  so, 
when  I  inform  you  that  I  have  come  into  posses- 
sion of  certain  documents,  relics  of  Walker  Sticey, 
recently  of  Sing  Sing  ;  ex-alderman  and  attorney 
at  law — now  dead." 

"  Well,  well,  well !"  exclaimed  Estill  in  surprise  ; 
and  at  that  moment  Mr.  Kirkwood  entered  his 
room. 

"Something  unusual,  eh  ?"  asked  the  head  of 
the  house,  his  sharp  instincts  ever  alert  to  know 
what  was  transpiring. 

"  Unusual — and  amusing,"   replied   Estill.     "  I 


THE   CHARACTERS   AND   THE   DIALOGUE.   175 

spoke  to  you  once  about  a  superannuated  apology 
for  a  lawyer  who  has  been  tagging  me  about  my  lost 
inheritance — I  bluffed  him  off,  and  now  he  writes 
that  he  has  papers  once  belonging  to  a  fellow 
named  Sticey — a  wretch  that  I  once  had  em- 
ployed in  the  matter,  but  who  afterwards  broke 
into  Sing  Sing  by  the  aldermanic  route — em- 
bezzlement of  city  funds,  or  something  of  that 
sort.  Dead  now." 

"  Thank  God  !"  exclaimed  Mr.  Kirkwood. 

"  Did  you  know  him  ?" 

"Know  him! — knew  of  him — one  of  a  set  of 
public  swindlers — great  blessing  when  every  one 
of  them  is  gone  !" 

"That's  right,"  assented  Howard.  "And  this 
fellow  Murchison — 

"  Murchison,  did  you  say  ?" 

"  Yes ;  Brice  Murchison.  Know  anything  of 
him  ?" 

"  No.  Same  ilk,  perhaps.  Don't  let  him  bleed 
you  for  a  cent,  my  boy — not  for  a  cent.  Better 
pay  no  attention  to  him.  Don't  allow  yourself  to 
be  led  in  an  expensive  chase  after  a  phantom  !" 
Mr.  Kirkwood  sank  down  on  a  couch  as  he 
spoke. 

"  I  gave  that  up  some  time  ago,  as  I  told  you," 
replied  Estill.  "  But  I  would  like  to  know  how 
this  old  Insect  has  managed  to  work  into  Sticey's 
papers.  Not  that  they  are  likely  to  prove  of  any 
value — " 


176  A   SOUTHERN   HERITAGE.  . 

"  As  a  matter  of  curiosity  they — ah,  will  you 
get  me  a  glass  of  brandy,  my  boy,  immediately, 
in  my  locker— 

"  Why,  yes — are  you  feeling  ill  ?"  And  Howard 
made  a  nimble  move  for  the  liquor  without  wait- 
ing for  reply.  When  Mr.  Kirkwood  had  swallow- 
ed a  liberal  dose,  Howard  repeated  his  question. 

"  Yes  ;  I  have  not  been  first-rate  for  some  time 
—heart  acting  a  little  queer.  There,  sit  down— 
I'm  all  right  now.  Don't  think  it's  very  alarming, 
but  doctors  don't  give  me  much  satisfaction 
about  it." 

"  Mrs.  Kirkwood  confided  to  me  that  you  had 
a  little  trouble  of  that  sort  now  and  then,"  How- 
ard remarked,  "  but  I  had  not  seen  any  indication 
of  it.  Hope  you  won't  let  it  grow  upon  you. 
Perhaps  you  had  better  be  quiet  to-day — 

"Yes;  think  I  will.  I'll  rest  here  a  minute, 
and  then  drive  home.  I  had  several  things  in 
mind — you  can  probably  attend  to  them  :  See 
about  renewal  of  mortgage  on  that  Chicago 
hotel  ;  insert  advertisements  for  bids  on  those 
Denver  bonds ;  see  Mangier  &  Co.  about  that 
Michigan  canal  subscription  ;  make  them  take  fifty 
thousand,  at  least.  And — ah,  you're  after  the 
Erie  people  with  that  narrow-gauge  project  ? 

"  Oh,  yes— yes." 

"  That's  right,  my  boy,  don't  let  up  on  them  a 
minute  !" 

Mr.  Kirkwood  was  not  seen  again  at  his  place  of 


THE   CHARACTERS   AND*  THE   DIALOGUE.  I// 

business  that  day,  nor  the  next^  Howard  was 
constantly  occupied  with  more  things  than  he 
could  well  take  care  of,  and  during  the  remainder 
of  the  week  gave  very  little  serious  thought  to 
Lawyer  Murchison,  his  injured  feelings,  or  myster- 
ious documents. 

Then  Christmas  came,  and  according  to  his 
promise,  given  in  the  summer,  he  went  to  Ayres- 
boro  to  spend  the  holiday  with  Florence  and  the 
Ordlaws.  While  on  the  train  he  fell  to  wonder- 
ing just  what  sort  of  papers  the  cunning  old 
counsellor  might  have  furbished  up.  "  I'm  sorry 
I  didn't  have  time  to  go  and  see  him  before  I 
left,"  he  soliloquized,  "  if  only  to  have  something 
to  tell  Florence.  But  he  will  no  doubt  keep  with- 
out further  decay  till  I  get  back." 

Ayresboro  was  a  very  different-looking  place 
now  from  what  it  was  with  its  summer  plumes  on. 
There  was  snow,  snow,  everywhere.  The  ravines 
were  full  of  it,  the  house-tops  were  covered 
with  it,  the  lanes  were  drifted  almost  to  oblitera- 
tion with  it.  Winter  was  upon  Ayresboro,  and 
picturesque  solitude  was  now  its  most  distinguish- 
ing feature.  Major  Derryberry's  big  hotel  was 
closed — when  night  came  it  was  dark  and  gloomy, 
except  for  the  lights  that  shone  from  the  few 
rooms  he  occupied  with  his  own  family.  The 
major  was  employing  his  time  in  literary  labors 
—composing  glittering  prospectuses  for  the  next 
season. 


1/8  A   SOUTHERN   HERITAGE. 

But  in  spite  of  ice  and  snow-drifts,  Mrs.  Ordlaw's 
cottage  was  snug  and  inviting.  Lot  had  great 
storm-doors  up,  and  never  permitted  the  big 
stoves  to  lack  fuel.  The  pleasing  prospects  of 
summer  were  now  bleak  indeed,  as  viewed  from 
the  half-frosted  windows,  but  the  little  rooms 
were  warm  and  snug,  and  in  spite  of  storms  and 
wailing  winds  there  was  a  feeling  of  security 
within. 

Christmas  arrived  the  next  day  after  Estill. 
About  the  first  thing  he  did  the  next  morning 
was  to  go  down  to  the  post-office  and  receive 
from  Olive  (twenty-four  hours  after  leaving  her)  a 
letter  fourteen  pages  long;  but  written  in  such 
a  space -consuming,  angular  hand  that  it  didn't 
amount  to  much,  after  all — in  the  way  of  quan- 
tity, of  course.  The  day  was  bright  and  crisp, 
and  the  reflection  of  the  sun  upon  the  limitless 
expanse  of  snow  was  almost  blinding.  Howard 
wore  blue  eyeglasses,  and  when  he  returned  to 
the  cottage  complained  about  the  glare  bringing 
the  freckles  out  so  noticeably  upon  his  face. 

Christmas  dinner  was  a  very  jolly  one.  Bessie 
Medlock  was  invited,  and  came  over  early.  Rilly 
was  out  coasting  all  morning,  but  came  in,  with 
snapping  eyes  and  rosy-red  cheeks,  in  time  to  help 
pare  apples  for  the  kitchen.  After  which  she 
slipped  a  small  icicle  down  Howard's  back,  and 
thereby  precipitated  a  romp  that  ultimately  in- 


THE   CHARACTERS   AND   THE   DIALOGUE.   179 

volved  everybody  else,  and  came  near  turning  the 
whole  house  topsy-turvy. 

Three  o'clock  came  and  Howard  began  to  com- 
plain of  being  ravenous.  He  remarked  that  he 
knew  Miss  Medlock  was,  too,  for  she  was  grow- 
ing restless.  Bessie  had  been  walking  around  a 
good  deal  and  glancing  out  of  the  window  fre- 
quently ;  but  still  she  protested  that  she  wasn't 
the  least  bit  hungry,  and  begged  Mrs.  Ordlaw 
and  Ellen  to  take  all  the  time  they  needed — 
there  wasn't  any  need  of  hurrying  on  her  account. 

Howard  said  the  afternoon  train  would  soon  be 
in,  and  he  expected  an  important  business  letter; 
and  couldn't  think  of  going  for  it  as  starved  as  he 
was  ;  but  this  anxiety  about  business  letters  was 
too  transparent  to  deceive  anybody. 

"  There  it  comes,  now,"  he  exclaimed,  as  a 
shrill  whistle  was  heard. 

"  And  dinner  will  be  ready  in  a  minute,"  re- 
plied Aunt  Ordlaw — which  it  was. 

"  I'm  sure  I  don't  know  what  makes  Bessie  so 
quiet  and  reserved,"  remarked  Florence,  as  they 
assembled  around  the  table. 

"  Really,  nothing  at  all,"  Bessie  replied,  smiling 
innocently  ;  "  or  at  most  it  can't  be  more  than  the 
calm  after  that  little  tempest  we  had." 

''  Rather  guess  I  could  tell  who  she's  thinking 
about,"  said  Howard  with  a  roguish  look.  "Never 
mind,  my  girl — perhaps  by  another  Christmas 


180  A   SOUTHERN  HERITAGE. 

there  won't  be  such  a  distance  between  you, 
ha,  ha."' 

"  Oh,  hush,  I  wasn't  thinking  of  anything  of  the 
kind,"  protested  Bessie,  which  was  not  an  unblush- 
ing falsehood,  by  any  means. 

Rap,  rap,  rap  !  came  briskly  upon  the  door. 
"  My,  who  can  that  be  ?"  exclaimed  Bessie,  with 
peculiar  anxiety. 

"  Sure  enough  —  rather  odd  time  for  callers," 
said  Howard,  despondent  over  the  prospect  of 
another  delay  of  dinner.  He  opened  the  door, 
and  in  burst — Floyd  Claycourt. 

"  Welcome,  my  boy — glad  to  see  you,"  ex- 
claimed Howard. 

"  Ha,  ha,  how  do,  old  chap,"  shouted  Floyd, 
grasping  his  hand.  "  Ha,  ha,  didn't  expect  me, 
of  course? — how  do,  Mrs.  Ordlaw — how  do,  Miss 
Florence,  awful  glad  to  see  you,  upon  my  word,  I 
am  !  Pardon  my  dropping  in  upon  you  this  way 
— why,  bless  my  heart,  here's  Miss  Medlock ! — how 
do,  Miss  Bessie — delighted  to  see  you,  too — shake 
both  hands — you're  looking  blooming — didn't  ex- 
pect me  at  all,  did  you  ? — no,  why  should  you. 
This  is  just  too  jolly — and  here's  Rilly — shake 
hands,  my  little  chum,  wait  till  I  get  out  of  this 
great  coat — it's  warm  in  here — and  I'll  give  you  a 
kiss — there — ha,  ha,  feel  almost  like  kissing  every- 
body— how  awfully  jolly  !" 

After  Mr.  Claycourt  had  somewhat  exhausted 
the  exuberance  of  his  jollity,  the  others  got  a 


THE   CHARACTERS   AND   THE   DIALOGUE.  l8l 

chance  to  say  something,  and  Howard  took  oc- 
casion to  admonish  him  that  dinner  would  get 
cold  soon. 

All  were  delighted  at  his  appearance — nothing 
else  could  have  created  such  a  flutter  of  'merri- 
ment. 

"  Why,  how  did  you  happen  to  come?"  inquired 
Bessie,  apparently  recovering  from  speechless 
surprise. 

"  Does  seem  odd,  doesn't  it?"  replied  Claycourt 
rattling  on  in  his  customary  manner.  "  Well,  you 
see  I  was  down  at  Washington  attending  to  a 
little  business — intended  to  get  back  to  New  York 
this  morning,  but  learned  Howard  had  come  over 
here,  and  thought  I'd  come  too.  May  be  late  for 
dinner,  says  I,  when  I  looked  at  the  time-table, 
but  I'll  take  my  chances  and  surprise  'em.  Splen- 
did scheme — train  came  near  being  late,  but  I'm 
just  in  time,  an't  I? — happy  luck!" 

"  What  in  the  world  is  this  ?"  exclaimed  Rilly, 
looking  at  a  piece  of  green  paper  that  she  picked 
up  from  the  floor.  "  It  says — '  Be  sure  and  come 
— will  try  and  keep  dinner  waiting  till  four-o'clock 
train  is  in,'  and  signed  by  Bessie  Medlock." 

Bessie  gave  a  slight  scream,  and  made  a  dash 
for  the  paper. 

"  Lord  bless  me !"  exclaimed  Claycourt,  con- 
fused, "  it  must  have  fallen  out  of  my  pocket." 

A  volley  of  laughter  followed  this  awkward  dis- 
closure, that  caused  Claycourt  to  grow  crimson 


1 82  A  SOUTHERN  HERITAGE. 

down  to  his  finger  tips,  and  Miss  Medlock  to  es- 
cape from  the  room.  Howard  soon  induced  her 
to  return,  however,  admitting  to  her  that  it  must 
be  a  mistake  and  .  .  . 

"  It's  all  your  fault,  you  awkward  fellow,"  she 
said  to  Claycourt,  half-hysterically. 

"  Yes,  I  know  it  was  very  stupid  of  me  to  lose 
your  telegram,  of  course,  but — but  I  got  here  on 
time,  didn't  I  ?" 

After  more  laughter,  everybody  said  it  was  per- 
fectly splendid  of  Bessie  to  arrange  such  a  de- 
lightful surprise,  and  Mrs.  Ordlaw  thanked  her  in 
a  motherly  way  for  having  Mr.  Claycourt  come, 
and  Estill  proposed  a  toast  to  her,  which  was 
drunk  with  genuine  apple  cider. 

The  dinner  was  sumptuous  and  the  merriment 
did  not  lag  for  a  moment.  The  pleasant  jingle 
of  sleigh-bells  was  frequently  heard,  and  joyous 
laughter  furnished  the  music  within. 

In  the  evening  they  played  games  like  children, 
and  took  turns  at  popping  corn  and  cracking  nuts. 

"  Talk  about  genuine  pleasure,"  exclaimed 
Claycourt,  "  why,  I  haven't  had  so  much  since  I 
was  a  boy  !  Never  knew  what  people  could  do 
in  the  country  to  amuse  themselves.  Glad  I've 
learned.  But  fact  is,  did  come  near  disappointing 
you.  Heard  yesterday  at  Washington  that  my 
poor  aunt  was  worse  again,  and  didn't  know  but 
I  ought  to  go  back  home." 

Estill  was   looking   over   the   morning   paper, 


THE   CHARACTERS   AND   THE   DIALOGUE.  183 

which  Lot  had  brought  from  the  post-office  (to- 
gether with  another  letter  from  Olive),  and  re- 
marked— "  She  was  pretty  poorly  yesterday,  but 
I  see  here  a  description  of  her  elegant  toilet  at 
the  opera  last  night — decollete,  pearl  necklace, 
and  that  sort  of  thing." 

"  What,  last  night !  Well,  by  Jove,  she  was ;" 
exclaimed  Claycourt,  glancing  at  the  paper ;  "well, 
that  dear  aunt  of  mine  is  a  wonder !  Did  you 
ever  know  a  woman  with  such  remarkable  talents, 
old  chap  ?" 


1 84  A  SOUTHERN  HERITAGE. 


CHAPTER  XL 

THE  WAYS  OF  FINANCE,  LOVE  AND  VENGEANCE. 

ONE  of  the  first  things  that  Estill  did  when  he 
returned  to  New  York  was  to  call  upon  Mr.  Mur- 
chison.  He  had  the  address  in  the  note  the  lawyer 
had  written  to  him,  but  even  then  experienced 
not  a  little  difficulty  in  finding  the  place.  It  was 
not  in  a  quarter  most  inhabited  by  lawyers ;  let- 
tered signs  of  professional  men  did  not  glitter 
upon  the  walls  and  stairways,  and  there  was  no 
ornate  office-directory  at  the  entrance. 

It  was  in  a  dingy  old  building,  on  an  insignifi- 
cant street,  occupied  mainly  by  people  engaged  in 
the  grocery  and  vegetable  trades.  A  fish  dealer 
had  the  ground  floor — nobody  disputed  that. 
There  was  not  the  least  chance  of  any  one  for- 
getting his  presence  in  the  neighborhood.  How- 
ard  found  a  narrow  staircase,  dark  and  creaky, 
and  in  a  most  discouraging  state  of  repair,  with  a 
sort  of  infernal  machine  in  the  way  of  a  trap-door 
half  way  up,  hung  with  a  weight,  that  led  the  un- 
wary to  believe  a  landing  was  there.  In  discover- 
ing his  mistake  the  unwary  usually  sprained  an 
ankle,  or  dislocated  some  other  joint  in  his  anat. 
omy. 


WAYS  OF  FINANCE,  LOVE  AND  VENGEANCE.    1 8$ 

Howard  began  to  ascend,  groping  his  way 
through  the  heavy  odor  that  had  a  permanent 
position  as  advertising  agent  for  the  fish  dealer. 
Being  of  athletic  physique  he  escaped  through  the 
trap  with  only  a  bruised  thumb,  and  at  the  top  of 
the  first  flight  stumbled  into  a  tobacco  factor's 
den.  The  man  did  not  know  anything  about 
Murchison — he  might  be  further  up. 

Howard  took  the  next  flight.  Here  the  odor, 
mingling  with  its  second-floor  neighbor,  became 
somewhat  neutralized,  but  still  performed  its 
proper  functions.  The  staircase  was  narrower  and 
dingier,  and  by  the  gradual  changes  of  scent 
Howard  knew  that,  he  was  coming  upon  a  stock 
of  green  coffee. 

The  man  among  the  coffee  sacks  didn't  know 
Murchison,  either — he  might  be  further  up. 

Then  the  stair  became  steep-winding  and  fear- 
fully rheumatic,  and  the  odor  decidedly  com- 
posite in  its  structure,  with  rank  symptoms  of 
dried  fruits  for  local  coloring.  After  bumping 
about  till  he  had  nearly  lost  breath  and  patience, 
Howard  arrived  at  his  self-appointed  counsellor's 
office.  Fortunately,  as  he  thought,  Mr.  Murchi- 
son was  in.  His  surroundings  were  simple.  He 
had  a  small  pine  table,  a  waste-basket  that  served 
also  for  cuspidor,  and  two  rickety  chairs.  On  the 
wall  was  a  court-calendar,  with  blank  spaces  under  ' 
a  heading  "  Cases  for  next  Term,"  from  which 
dangled  a  spider's  web. 


1 86  A  SOUTHERN   HERITAGE. 

Estill  was  surprised  to  find  Mr.  Muchison  ex- 
ceedingly busy.  The  "  Old  Insect  "  did  not  even 
take  time  to  greet  him  very  cordially,  but  kept 
on  pretending  to  write. 

"  I  came  up  to  see  about  those  Sticey  docu- 
ments," said  Howard,  in  short  breaths,  helping 
himself  to  the  vacant  rickety  chair. 

"  I'll  talk  with  you  in  just  a  minute,"  replied 
Muchison,  writing  very  noisily.  Howard  waited, 
and  recovered  his  breath. 

"  Now,  sir,"  said  the  lawyer,  fumbling  some 
papers  ostentatiously,  "  I'm  at  your  service." 

"  All  I  want  is  to  know  what  sort  of  papers 
those  are  that  you  claim  to  have  of  Sticey's,  and 
how  you  got  them." 

"  Ah — a-h'm — yes,  I  remember.  I  believe  I 
sent  you  a  communication  to  that  effect.  Well 
— ah'm — my  clerk  is  out  just  at  present,  and  has 
the  key  to  the  case  where  my  valuable  papers  are 
kept.  But — ahem — I  believe  there  has  been  no 
specific  engagement — that  is,  ahem — I  have  not 
been  regularly  retained  by  you  in  this  case  ?" 

"Why,  no"— 

"  In  that  event,  I  could  hardly  disclose  the 
nature  of  the  information  I  hold,"  interrupted 
Murchison. 

"  Oh,  you  can't  ?'"'  said  Howard,  somewhat 
sneeringly. 

"  Certainly  not.  It  would  be  unprofessional, 
quite  unprofessional,  sir !  It  takes  brains  to  dis- 


WAYS  OF  FINANCE,  LOVE  AND  VENGEANCE.    l8/ 

cover  these  facts — a  professional  man's  brains  are 
his  capital,  sir!" 

"  I  suppose  that  means,  you  want  a  retainer- 
fee?" 

"  Exactly — a  retainer-fee  of  one  hundred  dol- 
lars." 

"  Look  here,  Murchison,"  exclaimed  Howard, 
"you  can't  make  me  dance  to  any  such  music  as 
that  !  I've  been  worked  that  way  before,  and 
understand  the  scheme  !" 

"  Oh,  very  well — I'm  not  particular,"  answered 
Murchison,  with  an  air  of  confidence  and  indiffer- 
ence that  Estill  hardly  expected. 

"  What  do  you  know  about  Sticey,  any  way," 
Howard  asked. 

"  I  must  decline  to  answer  all  questions  till  my 
terms  are  complied  with,"  replied  Murchison. 

"  Say,  do  you  suppose  I'm  such  an  innocent,  as 
to  come  up  here,  to  an  out-of-the-way  den  like 
this,  and  give  up  a  hundred  dollars  to  a  creature  like 
you,  till  I  know  pretty  well  what  I'm  going  to  get 
for  it  ?  If  you  do,  you  show  your  ignorance  of 
human  nature." 

"  I'm  not  insisting  upon  it,  am  I  ?"  snapped 
Murchison. 

"  Likely  enough  because  you  know  it  wouldn't 
do  you  any  good.  Now,  I'll  tell  you  what  I'll 
do — I'll  make  an  agreement  here  in  writing,  to 
pay  you  a  fee  double  what  you  ask  if  you  first 
convince  me  that  you  have  any  letters  or  other 


188  A   SOUTHERN    HERITAGE. 

documents  of  Walker  Sticey's,  bearing  directly 
upon  the  Estill  estate/' 

"  Well — ahem,"  faltered  Mr.  Murchison,  evi- 
dently not  having  anticipated  a  proposition  like 
that. 

"  Do  you  take  me?"  demanded  Howard. 

"  Well,  ahem,  such  an  entirely  unprofessional 
action."  .  .  . 

"  Murchison,  you  old  skcesics,  I  think  you're  a 
humbug,  and  not  a  very  clever  one  at  that," 
blurted  out  Estill,  "  and  I  want  never  to  hear  any 
more  of  you  !  If  ever  you  come  nagging  at  me 
again — well,  I  may  lose  my  temper,  remember 
that !" 

Estill  wended  his  way  down  the  tortuous  and 
effluviated  staircase,  and  chided  himself  for  hav- 
ing ever  committed  the  folly  of  climbing  up. 

He  was  kept  so  busy  at  assisting  Mr.  Kirkwood 
in  the  multitude  of  important  plans  and  projects 
which  the  enterprising  financier  was  promoting, 
that  after  a  very  few  days  his  thoughts  hardly 
ever  reverted  to  Murchison.  There  was  great 
enthusiasm  in  the  business.  Mr.  Kirkwood  in- 
spired every  clerk  in  the  establishment  with  great 
ardor  and  emulation.  Howard  soon  discovered 
himself  partaking  of  the  bold  operator's  influ- 
ence. True,  many  of  his  grandest  enterprises 
were  still  to  be  developed,  but  even  the  glowing 
possibilities  were  invigorating. 

In  the  midst  of  all  this  activity,  and  hope,  and 


WAYS  OF  FINANCE,  LOVE  AND  VENGEANCE.    189 

excitement,  Estill  began  to  see  things  that  dis- 
turbed him.  A  certain  corporation  organized  in 
Wyoming  to  conduct  a  ranch  business  on  a  large 
scale,  came  to  grief  from  some  inexplicable  cause, 
and  a  large  number  of  unlucky  shareholders  did 
not  hesitate  to  accuse  Watson  Kirkwood,  who  had 
manipulated  the  capital  stock,  with  having  quite 
as  much  to  do  with  the  wrecking  as  with  the 
organization  of  the  concern.  Some  of  the  news- 
papers had  rather  sensational  articles  about  it,  but 
Mr.  Kirkwood  was  unfluttered  ;  and  after  any- 
body had  talked  with  him  five  minutes  on  the 
subject  he  was  quite  ready  to  believe  the  accus- 
ations wholly  unjust. 

But  that  was  not  all.  The  great  financier  had 
been  active  in  promoting  a  colonization  scheme 
in  Costa  Rica.  There  was  a  touch  of  mutual- 
benefit  allurement  in  the  plan,  and  the  induce- 
ments pictured  to  the  public  were  of  the  most 
tempting  sort.  The  homeless  were  all  to  have 
houses  and  lands,  poverty  was  to  be  unknown, 
and  life  was  to  be  one  of  luxurious  ease  in  a 
climate  where  nature  needed  very  little  assistance 
to  supply  all  human  requirements.  Rich  forests 
of  cabinet  and  dye  woods  and  luxuriant  produc- 
tions of  rarest  tropical  fruits  were  among  the  in- 
exhaustible sources  of  wealth.  Gorgeous  illus- 
trations accompanied  the  text. 

Several  dozen  families  had  invested  their  little 
all  in  the  scheme  and  packed  off  hopefully  to  the 


190  A   SOUTHERN   HERITAGE. 

wonderful  land  of  promise,  while  there  were 
favorable  prospects  of  catching  a  great  many 
more.  This  was  the  condition  of  the  enterprise 
when  Estill  came  upon  the  scene.  He  had  heard 
of  colonization  enterprises  and  co-operation  com- 
munities, and  was  naturally  skeptical.  He  said 
to  Kirkwood  that  he  didn't  entirely  like  the  looks 
of  it  all. 

"  There's  no  flaw  in  it,  my  boy,"  replied  the 
senior  member.  "  There's  little  or  no  element  of 
risk,  and  dead  sure  gain.  We  have  a  contract 
with  the  government,  or  what  passes  for  one  down 
there,  for  two  hundred  dollars  a  head  for  every 
man  or  woman  we  induce  to  settle  in  the  country 
and  stay  two  years.  We  have  a  contract  for  land 
enough  for  a  commonwealth  at  twenty-five  cents 
an  acre.  That  is  sold  to  our  dear  colonists  at 
four  dollars  an  acre.  Cheap  enough  to  them, 
an't  it  ?  Where  can  they  buy  valuable  timber  or 
fruit  lands  in  this  country  for  that  money?  If 
they  stay  there,  as  most  of  them  will  have  to  do, 
they  will  need  supplies — machinery  and  all  kinds 
of  goods.  We  can't  be  expected  to  furnish  them 
without  a  profit,  eh  ?" 

Mr.  Kirkwood's  confidence  in  the  financial  suc- 
cess of  the  enterprise  for  the  originators  of  it 
seemed  well  enough  founded,  but  Howard  was 
not  entitely  satisfied  yet. 

"  What  surety  has  the  colonist  that  the  country 
is  all  you  represent  it  ?"  he  asked. 


WAYS  OF  FINANCE,  LOVE  AND  VENGEANCE.    IQI 

"  Surety !  Lord  bless  you — he  goes  down  and 
investigates,"  replied  Mr.  Kirkwood. 

*'  Yes,  and  takes  his  family,  and  spends  his 
money ;  and  there  he  is,  whether  he  finds  what 
he  expected  or  not." 

"  In  that  case,  he  is  very  likely  to  remain  two 
years,"  said  Mr.  Kirkwood,  with  a  shrug.  "  And 
of  course  we  hope  they  find  it  healthy,  for  dead 
ones  don't  count." 

It  was  somewhat  of  a  coincidence,  but  that  very 
day  Estill  happened  down  near  the  Battery,  and 
saw  a  lank  individual  trudging  along  with  an  air 
betokening  calamities  and  sorrows  without  end. 
He  walked  a  trifle  unsteadily,  carried  a  carpet-bag 
of  antique  design,  which  appeared  to  have  space 
inside  to  let ;  wore  a  "  hickory  "  shirt,  a  tattered 
hat,  and  neglige  trousers.  Evidently  he  had  just 
disembarked. 

Howard  discovered  something  familiar  about 
him,  and  the  odd  individual,  struck  by  a  counte- 
nance that  he  had  seen  before,  halted  and  stared 
back  in  confusion. 

"  Rather  guess  I've  seen  you  somewhar  afore," 
he  drawled  out. 

"Well,  I  rather  guess,"  replied  Howard,  plac- 
ing his  man  the  moment  he  heard  him  speak ; 
"  Prosperity  Jelks — Cheep  Store — how  is  business 
up  at  Rose  Valley  ?" 

"  Law,  young    feller,  you've  got  me,"  replied 


A  SOUTHERN   HERITAGE. 

Mr.  Jelks,  more  confused  than  ever.  "  Now  whar 
on  airth — " 

"  Don't  know  me,  eh  ?  Well,  no  wonder — we 
never  got  very  well  acquainted.  I'm  the  man 
who  came  to  your  place  last  summer  looking  for 
the  negro,  Zeb.  And  a  pretty  snipe-hunt  that 
black  rascal  took  me  on.  But  where  the  deuce 
have  you  been  ?" 

Mr.  Jelks  dropped  his  carpet-sack,  stuck  both 
hands  in  his  pockets,  and  delivered  himself  up  to 
eloquence. 

"You  talk  about  snipe-hunts,  do  yer!  Waal, 
I've  been  on  the  condemndest,  all-firedest  one 
that  ever  a  smart  man  tuk  to  !  I'm  free  ter  say 
that  I  kin  take  the  belt  fer  darn-foolism  when  it 
comes  to  rushin'  off  half-cocked  fer  glory." 

"  Indeed,  I  wouldn't  think  it,"  answered  How- 
ard. 

"  Thet's  the  way  I  feel,  anyhow.  I've  been  on 
a  prospectin'  tower  in  thet  infernal  region  uv 
Costy  Reeky—" 

"Ah,  in  Costa  Rica,  eh?" 

"Yaas,  sumwhar  in  Central  Ameriky,  I  guess; 
anyhow  it's  'way  out  er  sight  uv  any  civilization, 
an'  I  should  say  considerably  over  the  border  frum 
God's  country." 

"  Why,  didn't  you  find  it  all  right  ?" 

"  My  friend,  it's  the  rankest,  infernalest  damned 
fraud  that  any  man  ever  had  the  gosh-darned  luck 
'er  light  onto.  Jest  look  at  this  yer  thrillin'  pros- 


WAYS  OF  FINANCE,  LOVE  AND  VENGEANCE.    193 

pectus" — and  Mr.  Jelks  produced  one  of  Mr. 
Kirkwood's  alluring  circulars,  nearly  worn  out — 
"  see  all  it  says  about  mahogany  an'  walnut,  an' 
bannaners,  an'  vaniller,  an'  lemon  trees,  an'  coffee 
plants  an'— 

"  Well,  an't  they  there  ?"  inquired  Howard. 

"  Thar  !  Mebby  they  air — fer  all  I  know ! 
Mebby  they  air — but  why  don't  this  lyin'  paper 
say  suthin'  about  the  brilin'  heat,  and  malary,  an' 
ten  thousand  million  snakes,  ev'ry  one  sure  death 
ter  yer,  and  forty  thousand  times  that  many  spid- 
ers an'  tarantylers,  an'  centerpedes — an'  as  fer 
muskeeters  an'  fleas,  law  bless  you,  man,  they 
measure  'em  by  the  acre!  Why  don't  this  lyin' 
account  uv  the  kentry  say  sumthin'  about  the 
things  it's  most  distinguished  fer  ?  An'  then 
there's  the  fevers,  an'  wild  animalsj  an'  savages, 
an'  desolation  !  It  an't  fit  fer  any  white  man,  an* 
the  few  as  air  thar  an'  can't  git  away  are  dyin'  off 
by  degrees." 

"  You  don't  tell  me  so,  Jelks !"  exclaimed 
Howard. 

"  That's  a  fac  !  It's  the  worst  jint  fer  misery 
thet  I  ever  kem  acrost.  An'  an't  them  poor 
devils  as  are  down  thar  a  cussin'  their  luck,  an' 
the  sharpers  as  roped  'em  inter  goin' !  Why,  it's 
a  tarnal  fraud ;  the  whole  business  is  !  Hayr 
I've  jest  been  spendin'  three  hundred  an'  forty, 
two  dollars  an'  thirty  cents  a  findin'  it  out,  an' 
an't  quite  done  yit  ;  an'  I  guess  I  know  purty 


194  A   SOUTHERN   HERITAGE. 

well  what  I'm  talkin'  about.  An*  now  I'm  goin' 
back  to  Rose  Valley.  You  see,  I  got  kind  cr 
tired  er  the  place,  business  bein'  a  little  quiet  on 
off  days,  but  law  bless  yer,  it  seems  to  me  now 
like  a  paradise,  if  it  hain't  got  no  bannaners  an' 
vaniller  !  An'  if  we  do  find  a  rattlesnake  now  an' 
then  !  I'm  goin'  back  ter  the  ol*  woman  an'  the 
store,  an'  if  yer  ever  hear  uv  any  darned  fool 
talkin'  'bout  leavin'  this  kentry,  God  bless  it,  fer 
Costy  Reeky,  jest  you  refer  'em  to  Prosperity 
Jelks — that's  all !" 

It  might  be  fair  to  suppose  that  Mr.  Jelks  was 
prejudiced  against  emigration,  and  this  coloniz- 
ation enterprise  in  particular,  considering  the 
lavish  expenditure  his  "  prospectin'  tower  "  had 
cost  him.  But  even  with  making  due  allowance 
on  his  arithmetical  calculations  relative  to  snakes 
and  insects,  there  was  still  quite  enough  remain- 
ing to  cause  Estill  very  disagreeable  feelings. 

Perhaps  there  are  some  natures  so  firm,  and  so 
perfectly  trained  in  business,  that  they  will  sneer 
at  Estill  as  an  unpractical,  soft-hearted  youth  for 
feeling  any  compunctions  about  the  matter.  Mr. 
Kirkwood  possessed  such  an  organization,  and  it 
would  be  foolishly  optimistic  to  hope  that  every 
member  of  his  practical  class  is  dead. 

Howard  felt  that  in  his  position  he  was  a  silent 
partner  in  a  diabolical  crime.  It  was  impossible 
to  dismiss  the  subject,  and  ease  his  conscience  by 
pleading  innocence.  He  could  not  satisfactorily 


WAYS  OF  FINANCE,  LOVE  AND  VENGEANCE.    195 

excuse  himself  on  the  ground  that  he  had  had 
nothing  to  do  with  originating  the  scheme,  and 
had  not  actively  sanctioned  it.  He  was  partaking 
of  the  returns  of  a  business,  one  of  whose  sources 
of  profit  was  this  deliberately  planned  system  of 
deception. 

The  proposition  was  plain  enough  :  He  must 
either  act  at  once  the  part  of  a  man  of  honor,  or 
quietly  commit  himself  to  Mr.  Kirkwood's  demor- 
alizing methods.  He  blushed  to  think  that  he 
hesitated  for  a  moment  which  to  do.  But  the 
considerations  were  so  great  —  there  were  pros- 
perity and  influence  and — far  more  powerful  than 
all  else — love,  in  the  balance  against  the  prospect 
of  poverty  and  drudgery.  For  if  he  broke  with 
Mr.  Kirkwood  he  felt  that  it  would  prove  an  in- 
superable barrier  against  his  wedding  with  Olive. 
He  might  defer  it — what,  secure  his  happiness 
and  creature  comforts  at  the  expense  of  human 
lives  !  Was  it  possible  that  he  could  lack  the 
courage  to  protest  against  such  an  inhuman  sys- 
tem of  fraud,  and  thrive  upon  the  misery  of  the 
poor  wretches  who  were  helpless  and  dying  in  a 
far-off  wilderness  !  Could  any  soul  with  a  mite 
of  compassion  submit  to  such  infamous  enter- 
prises ? 

Yet  that  seemed  to  be  business  ! 

Thinking  it  over  carefully,  Estill  could  not 
regret,  as  he  sometimes  had,  that  his  early  train- 


196  A   SOUTHERN    HERITAGE. 

ing  did  not  imbue  him  more  thoroughly  with 
business  instincts. 

While  Howard  was  in  this  serious  state  of 
mind  another  disgraceful  operation  came  to  view 
through  the  unhallowed  mists  of  artful  enterprise. 
One  of  the  first  things  that  he  had  been  given  to 
test  his  latent  abilities  upon  when  he  joined 
hands  with  Kirkwood,  was  the  reorganization  of  a 
cotton-seed  oil  company,  that  had  been  for  some 
time  struggling  along  unsuccessfully  with  a  plant 
in  the  lower  district  of  South  Carolina.  Just  why 
it  had  been  a  failure  no  one  could  satisfactorily 
explain,  as  liberal  salaries  had  been  paid  the 
manager  and  superintendent,  and  it  could  not  be 
denied  that  there  was  ample  demand  for  genuine 
olive  oil  in  the  country.  Anyway,  its  affairs  had 
got  into  a  snarl,  and  Mr.  Kirkwood  (who  had 
been  one  of  the  original  directors)  took  a  larger 
grasp  on  it  to  pull  it  out  of  the  financial  mire. 

This  simple  task  he  turned  over  to  Estill,  whose 
efficient  work  of  lubrication  soon  set  the  mill  to 
going  again.  He  received  a  block  of  the  stock  for 
his  services,  and  succeeded  in  securing  subscrip- 
tions for  shares  from  a  number  of  his  acquaint- 
ances. 

Things  had  got  fairly  to  going  when  Kirkwood 
said  to  him  : 

"  Isn't  it  time  for  a  dividend  on  cotton-seed 
stock?" 


WAYS  OF  FINANCE,  LOVE  AND  VENGEANCE.    197 

"  Time  for  dividend  ?  Hope  you  don't  expect 
one  already,"  replied  Howard. 

"  Why  not  ?"  demanded  Kirkwood. 

"  Because  there  isn't  anything  to  divide." 

"  Hasn't  it  been  three  months  since  we  reor- 
ganized ?" 

"  Yes,  but  we  have  barely  paid  expenses  as  yet, 
and  I  don't  see  how  you  could  expect  more  con- 
sidering— " 

"  Oh,  we  can't  let  that  have  anything  to  do 
with  it,"  Mr.  Kirkwood  exclaimed,  interrupting 
him;  "the  scheme  must  be  profitable  from  the 
start." 

"Well,  but  how  can — " 

"  Simple  enough,  my  boy.  We  hold  a  majority 
of  the  stock  at  present,  don't  we  ?  What  did  it 
cost  us? — about  fifteen  per  cent,  eh.  Well,  what 
we  want  to  do  is  to  give  it  a  lift.  We  must 
declare  a  quarterly  dividend  of  two  per  cent." 

"  My  dear  Mr.  Kirkwood,  we  may  declare  all 
we  please,  but  there  is  scarcely  money  enough  in 
sight  for  current  expenses,  and  to  pay  is  another 
thing !" 

"  Ha,  ha,  you  don't  understand,"  exclaimed 
Mr.  Kirkwood  patronizingly.  "  There's  nothing 
easier.  You've  realized  some  twenty  thousand 
dollars  from  stock  sales,  haven't  you?  Pay  it  out 
of  that.  Next  quarter  pay  three  per  cent  from 
the  same  fund,  list  the  stock  on  the  exchange, 


198  A   SOUTHERN   HERITAGE. 

and  it  will  go  like  hot  muffins  at  forty  or  fifty 
premium." 

Howard  stared  at  him  in  speechless  amaze- 
ment. 

"  Don't  you  see,  my  boy,"  continued  Mr. 
Kirkwood,  with  a  light  laugh  ;  "  forty  or  fifty 
premium — and  then  we  will  quietly  get  out  of  the 
cotton-seed  oil  business."  And  Mr.  Kirkwood 
rounded  off  with  the  sanctimonious  joke,  that  it 
was  a  good  deal  of  a  fraud,  anyway. 

Howard  got  up  in  a  dignified  manner.  "  Mr. 
Kirkwood,"  said  he,  "  I  came  into  this  company 
in  good  faith.  I  have  worked  for  it  with  honest 
motives,  and,  by  heaven,  I'll  go  out  of  it  in  good 
faith !  I  tell  you  plainly  that  I  will  not  lend  my 
name,  or  be  in  any  way  complicated,  with  such  a 
nefarious  proceeding." 

"  Oh,  come,  come,  come,"  protested  Mr.  Kirk- 
wood, "  what's  the  difference?  The  mill  will  pay 
well  enough — in  time." 

"  I  am  not  extemporizing  with  my  conscience 
on  any  such  uncertain  terms.  I  am  amazed  at 
your  audacity  !  Such  a  dishonorable  proposition 
shocks  and  paius  me." 

"  Well,  well,  don't  lose  your  temper — 

"  I  have  not  lost  it — I  have  full  control  of  it, 
and  I  feel  called  upon  to  use  it  as  a  gentleman 
should  to  defend  his  integrity!" 

"  Come,  don't  display  any  rashness.  You  evi- 
dently miscomprehend  me  entirely,"  said  Mr. 


WAYS  OF  FINANCE,  LOVE  AND  VENGEANCE.    199 

Kirkwood  with  quiet  firmness,  assuming  that 
self-possession  and  righteousness  of  demeanor 
which  made  him  almo&t  irresistible  in  discussion  ; 
and  gave  him  a  power  of  conviction  against  which 
many  older  and  more  experienced  men  than  Estill 
had  given  way  against  their  better  interests. 
"  You  are  altogether  too  squeamish,  my  boy.  You 
will  have  to  learn  that  in  this  unsympathetic 
grind  of  business  you  must  use  your  brains  where 
they  will  do  the  most  good." 

"  Yes,  but  not  where  they  will  do  the  most 
evil.  Mr.  Kirkwood,  I  am  disappointed.  You 
may  be  no  worse  than  other  business  men,  but  I 
detest  this  whole  system  of  plunder !  It  is  not 
alone  in  this,  but  apparent  in  many  things.  I 
protest  against  it.  I  protest  against  the  methods 
employed  by  your  colonization  company.  It  was 
only  yesterday  that  I  learned  how  disgracefully 
deceptive  the  whole  business  is." 

"  Estill,  I  deny  it — you  are  misinformed !  Be- 
sides what  have  you  to  do  with  that  ?" 

"  Personally,  nothing,  thank  God  !  But  legally  I 
am  a  partner  in  this  house,  and  you,  as  the  head  of 
it,  are  taking  the  hard-earned  pittances  from  in- 
nocent, guileless  people,  for  which  you  send  them 
to  an  uncivilized  country  under  the  falsest  prom- 
ises that  your  ingenuity  can  invent  !  Don't  tell 
me  they  are  justifiable — I  am'convinced  that  they 
are  not  !  The  spot  that  you  are  sending  those 
people  to  is  all  but  uninhabitable  !" 


200  A   SOUTHERN    HERITAGE. 

"  They  are  not  slaves — let  them  come  away," 
put  in  Kirkwood. 

"  They  are  worse  off  than  slaves !"  retorted 
Estill.  "They  are  helpless  and  unprotected. 
Many  of  them  can  not  get  away,  and  by  your 
own  confession,  those  are  the  ones  you  hope  to 
profit  still  further  by  !  Think  of  drawing  a  com- 
mission on  the  misery  of  heart-broken  mothers 
and  suffering  children  who  are  dying  slowly  from 
the  viciousness  of  the  climate  and  other  horrors 
of  a  tropical  wilderness  !  This  scheme  is  shame- 
ful— that  is  unmerciful,  inhuman  !" 

It  was  a  part  of  Mr.  Kirkwood's  profession  to 
keep  cool  and  composed  under  all  circumstances, 
for  one  in  his  position  must  expect  to  hear  un- 
pleasant talk  occasionally  ;  but  now  his  face  grew 
white,  and  it  was  with  difficulty  that  he  restrained 
his  anger. 

"  Estill,  you  are  insolent,"  he  said,  repeating 
it  ;  "  worse,  you  talk  like  a  young  fool — you 
would  do  better  to  remember  your  place !  I 
didn't  take  you  in  here  to  give  me  advice — you 
are  not  competent  to  do  it!" 

"  I  may  be  a  fool,  but  thank  heaven,  I  am  not 
a  knave,"  was  Estill's  modest  rejoinder. 

"  I  think  we  are  both  too  angry  to  continue 
this  conversation,"  remarked  Mr.  Kirkwood,  im- 
pressively. "  Your*  southern  blood  is  aroused!" 

"  And  my  native  integrity — thank  God,  that  is  a 
Heritage  I  have  not  lost !  but  I  have  no  desire  to 


WAYS  OF  FINANCE,  LOVE  AND  VENGEANCE.    2OI 

quarrel.  I  found  it  was  my  duty  to  place  myself 
squarely  on  record,  and  I  hope  you  understand 
my  character  now  better  than  you  did  before." 
Howard  started  to  leave  the  office.  Kirkwood 
called  him  back. 

"  Estill,  my  boy,"  he  began,  quite  master  of 
himself  again,  "  I  admire  a  straightforward  man 
who  strikes  from  the  shoulder.  Sit  down  here 
and  listen  to  me.  Whether  either  of  us  is  entirely 
wrong  or  entirely  right  we  need  not  discuss,  but 
don't  you  think — calmly  now  ! — that  you  are 
making  a  monstrous  mistake,  every  way,  in 
quitting  this  place  in  a  rage  ?" 

"  I  am  not  in  a  rage." 

"  I'm  pleased  to  hear  it.  Now  say  you  don't 
mean  to  leave,  and  you  will  appear  to  have  re- 
covered your  senses." 

"  Please  don't  put  it  in  that  way — I  haven't 
lost  my  senses,  or  any  one  of  them — not  for  a 
moment." 

"  Granted.  Can't  you  see  then,  that  it  would 
be  worse  than  folly  for  you  to  throw  over  your 
prospects,  perhaps  your  happiness,  in  a  burst  of 
impetuosity?  Do  you  suppose  that  any  intelli- 
gent, practical  man  in  the  city  would  advise  you 
to  do  as  you  threaten  ?" 

"  I  don't  know  about  the  eminently  practical 
ones,"  replied  Estill. 

Kirkwood  winced  a  trifle,  but  he  was  too  pru- 
dent to  permit  the  young  man  to  leave  him  under 


202  A   SOUTHERN   HERITAGE. 

such  circumstances,  if  there  was  any  help  for  it. 
So  he  kept  on  applying  the  balm. 

"  Different  modes  of  life  and  different  environ- 
ments make  different  characters,"  he  said  in  a 
half-apologetic  way.  "  According  to  your  notions, 
I  admit  that  my  proposition  to  you  may  have  ap- 
peared flagrant.  But  you  must  remember,  my 
boy,  that  in  this  line  of  life  it  is  diamond  cut 
diamond,  and  after  a  man  has  had  thirty  or  forty 
years'  experience  at  it,  with  his  ups  and  downs 
and  varying  degrees  of  success,  he  learns  that  the 
only  way  to  keep  ahead  of  the  world  is  to  fight 
it  with  its  own  weapons — employ  its  own  methods 
and  principles." 

"  Then  I  prefer  to  fall  behind,  for  I  will  never 
do  it  after  the  manner  you  have  proposed." 

"  Very  well,  let  that  go  then — work  your 
sweet-scented  cotton-seed  mill  according  to  your 
own  pious  plans.  But  don't  fly  into  any  tantrums, 
and  don't  be  too  ready  to  believe  all  you  hear 
about  fraud  and  false  representations.  Just  re- 
member that  every  man  of  success  has  his  ene- 
mies, and  that  all  sharp  methods  in  financiering  are 
not  crimes.  Why  bless  you,  my  boy,  if  we  all 
went  by  the  golden  rule,  and  that  sort  of  thing, 
where  would  all  our  great  millionaires  be  ?  And 
our  famous  benefactors?" 

"I  think  there  would  be  more  benefactors  and 
fewer  great  millionaires,  which  would  suit  me 
just  as  well,"  said  Howard. 


WAYS  OF  FINANCE,  LOVE  AND  VENGEANCE.    2OJ 

Kirkwood  looked  at  him  for  a  moment,  as  if  he 
considered  him  almost  incorrigible,  and  doubted 
whether  he  ever  could  make  a  financier  out  of 
him.  But  he  kept  on  talking,  and  craftily  slurred 
the  conversation  over  tender  places,  bringing  it 
up  finally  to  questions  of  plain  business,  and 
managed  it  so  that  their  parting  was  much  after 
the  usual  way. 

Watson  Kirkwood  exerted  a  winning  influence. 
In  spite  of  the  duplicity  of  his  character,  as 
Howard  had  discovered  it,  he  could  not  feel  an 
entire  contempt  for  the  man.  There  was  some- 
thing in  his  nature  that  he  could  not  help  liking. 
As  they  came  down  the  steps  together,  Mr.  Kirk- 
wood talking  earnestly,  a  distressful-looking  fel- 
low in  plaintive  voice  interrupted  him,  begging 
for  a  few  cents  to  buy  food. 

"What,"  snapped  Kirkwood,  "hungry  ehr1"  as 
if  he  was  surprised  that  anybody  should  go  hungry. 

"  Haven't  had  a  mouthful  for  two  days," 
replied  the  beggar,  and  his  appearance  corrobor- 
ated his  word. 

"  Here's  half-a-dollar — play  that  as  far  as  it 
will  go  against  sausage  and  potatoes,"  said  Kirk- 
wood carelessly,  and  resumed  his  conversation  as 
if  the  gift  and  the  admonition  were  alike  such 
trifling  incidentals  that  he  had  bestowed  them 
without  breaking  his  train  of  thought,  or  even 
suspecting  that  he  was  performing  a  charity.  It 
might  have  been  the  trick  of  an  actor,  but,  if  so, 


204  A   SOUTHERN    HERITAGE. 

it  was  so  artistically  done  that  it  was  not  without 
effect,  even  upon  Estill. 

Nevertheless,  Howard  was  left  in  anything  but 
a  satisfied  frame  of  mind.  He  was  in  an  un- 
pleasant mood  all  the  evening,  and  saw  no  one. 
After  all,  he  felt  that  he  had  only  half-performed 
his  duty,  and  that  in  a  more  dramatic  manner 
than  was  absolutely  necessary.  Could  he  hope 
ever  to  reform  Kirkwood's  methods?  He  would 
first  have  to  reform  Kirkwood.  There  was  so 
little  probability  that  he  could  exert  sufficient 
influence  to  change  his  ideas  and  tactics,  that  it 
seemed  absurd  even  to  think  of. 

And  from  deploring  Mr.  Kirkwood's  short- 
comings, his  thoughts  would  revert  to  Mrs.  Kirk- 
wood,  and  Blake  Harrell,  and  to  what  certain 
people  likely  enough  were  saying — and  altogether 
he  was  "  perplexed  in  the  extreme." 

The  next  evening  he  went  to  see  Olive.  She 
divined  in  a  moment  that  something  was  causing 
him  unusual  trouble. 

"  Darling,"  he  said  to  her  gravely,  "  I  have  been 
very  unhappy  for  two  days." 

"  Why  didn't  you  come  to  see  me  before?"  she 
inquired  innocently. 

Under  almost  any  other  conditions,  no  doubt 
he  would  have  sought  the  panacea  thus  kindly 
suggested  much  more  promptly. 

"  Has  your  father  mentioned  the  talk  he  and  I 
had  together  ?"  he  inquired. 


WAYS  OF  FINANCE,  LOVE  AND  VENGEANCE.   20$ 

"  Why,  no.     What  about  ?" 

He   knew   that   would    be    the   first    question. 

"About  business — nothing  but  business.  And 
I'm  extremely  sorry  to  tell  you  that  it  was  not 
entirely  harmonious." 

"  Oh,  Howard  dear,  don't  say  that !" 

"I  must.  I  find  that — that  we  differ  very 
materially  in  some  of  our  views,  and  in  the  most 
important  way  possible.  We  had  a  very  plain 
discussion  over  it  yesterday,  and  I  came  so  very 
near  leaving  the  place  that  I  have  felt  consider- 
ably estranged  from  it  ever  since." 

"  Why,  Howard,  you  amaze  me !  Has  papa 
been  abusing  you,  dear?" 

She  did  not  disappoint  him — he  expected  that 
question  too.  « 

"  Not  in  any  way  that  you  might  imagine.  As 
I  said,  we  differ.  I  don't  like  to  tell  you  just 
how.  Enough  to  say  that  I  believe  I  was  entirely 
in  the  right,  and  that  the  difference  is  too  serious 
to  hope  for  its  passing  away.  Indeed,  I  fear  it  is 
irreconcilable.  If  it  had  not  been  for  considera- 
tions of  you,  I  should  not  have  hesitated  a 
moment  to  quit  straight  off." 

Tears  came  into  Olive's  eyes,  and  then  there 
were  more  questions  and  consternation.  Howard 
evaded  the  real  facts  as  well  as  he  could,  but  yet 
it  was  impossible  to  explain  the  situation  and 
conceal  all  the  truth.  It  seemed  a  little  surpris- 
ing to  him  that  she  should  fail  to  consider  the 


206  A   SOUTHERN    HERITAGE. 

difficulty  as  insuperable  as  it  seemed  to  him. 
But  then,  he  philosophized,  woman's  perceptive 
faculties  are  not  as  keen  as  man's,  and  Olive  could 
hardly  be  expected  to  comprehend  the  case  fully 
without  knowing  the  facts  as  completely  as  he 
did. 

"  Why,  you  talk  as  if  it  was  something  that 
would  separate  us,"  she  exclaimed  at  last. 

Howard  remained  silent  for  a  few  moments 
before  replying  further.  At  length  he  said — 

"  Olive,  it  is  a  very  serious  matter.  I  feel 
almost  certain  that  there  can  never  be  much 
sympathy  or  confidence  between  Mr.  Kirkwood 
and  myself.  We  may  continue  amicably  for  a 
time,  but  I  believe  that  a  break  between  us  is 
inevitable.  It  is  a  terrible  thing,  Olive,  for  a 
family  to  be  divided  against  itself.  Be  courage- 
ous now,  and  let  us  consider  the  matter  pru- 
dently— " 

"  Oh,  Howard,  Howard,  don't  speak  so — I 
can't !" 

"  But  think  of  the  probable  consequences — 
take  time." 

"  No,  no,  I  don't  want  to  think  of  it,  for  a 
minute." 

"  But  I  feel  it  my  duty  to." 

"Howard,"  she  interrupted  calmly,  "do  you 
love  me,  or  not  ?" 

"  Darling,  my  life,  I  adore  you,"  he  replied 
fervently. 


WAYS  OF  FINANCE,  LOVE  AND  VENGEANCE.    2O/ 

"  Then  don't  let  anything  in  the  world  separate 
us." 

"  No,  no,  darling — not  after  this,"  he  replied 
clasping  her  closely  in  his  arms.  "  It  may  mean 
poverty — " 

"  And  I  will  endure  it  with  you  cheerfully,"  she 
said.  "  Don't  be  too  critical  with  poor  papa — he 
is  so  good-hearted  and  kind,  and  if  you  can't  get 
along,  separate,  and  don't  be  enemies,  and  we 
will  all  be  happy,  anyway." 

After  this  advice,  simple  as  it  was,  Howard  felt 
as  if  he  might  have  been  magnifying  his  distress 
a  trifle.  Anyhow,  now  that  Olive  understood,  it 
was  something  off  from  his  mind.  But  he  deter- 
mined to  seek  other  business  connections  without 
delay. 

The  following  week,  Olive  went  to  Boston  on 
a  visit,  and  to  assist  at  the  wedding  of  a  very 
dear  friend  ;  and  Howard  became  more  studious 
of  evenings.  One  night  as  he  sat  with  his  books, 
he  was  surprised  to  receive  a  call  from  Mr.  Blake 
Harrell.  At  first  he  was  on  the  point  of  refusing 
to  see  him,  but  upon  second  consideration  con- 
cluded that  it  would  be  more  prudent  to  discover 
the  object  of  his  visit. 

Mr.  Harrell  was  even  more  suave  than  usual, 
and  his  deportment  would  have  led  an  unknowing 
one  to  assume  that  it  was  quite  the  customary 
thing  for  him  to  drop  in  upon  Mr.  Estill  for  an 
hour's  chat. 


208  A   SOUTHERN   HERITAGE. 

"  Indeed,  one  can  be  expected  to  keep  up  only 
a  few  of  the  acquaintances  that  he  forms.  One 
is  taken  up  here  and  there,  and  drops  out  there 
and  here — ungratefully,  sometimes,  no  doubt. 
However,  promiscuous  friendships  are  really  unde- 
sirable," remarked  Harrell  with  perfect  nonchal- 
ance. 

Howard  said  nothing,  but  appeared  to  be  .wait- 
ing for  Mr.  Harrell  to  tell  what  he  came  for. 

"  I  have  regretted  that  we  have  not  come 
together  oftener  of  late,"  said  Harrell,  after  a  few 
more  idle  observations ;  "  one  doesn't  like  to 
break  squarely  off  from  an  agreeable  acquaint- 
anceship that  he  made  under  such  pleasant  cir- 
cumstances, you  know.  Ah,  I  presume  you  have 
observed  my  absence  from  the  Kirkwood  man- 
sion during  the  last  fortnight  ?" 

"  Yes,"  replied  Howard,  without  any  expression 
of  regret. 

"  Well,  you  know  very  disagreeable  little  scenes 
will  occur  now  and  then,  and  you  are  probably 
aware  that  one  blew  up  between  Mr.  Kirkwood 
and  myself?" 

"  It  seems  to  be  common  intelligence,"  said 
Howard. 

"  And  you  understand,  of  course,  that  out  of 
self-respect  I  could  do  no  more  than  discontinue 
my  acquaintance  with  him." 

"  I  should  consider  it  a  politic  conclusion,"  re- 


WAYS  OF  FINANCE,  LOVE  AND  VENGEANCE.   2OQ 

marked  Howard,  "  especially  as  he  requested  you 
to  discontinue  your  visits  to  his  house." 

"  Weil,  I  suppose  that  you  fully  understood 
the  nature  of — " 

"  Pardon  me,  Mr.  Harrell,  it  would  not  be  very 
entertaining  to  me  to  enter  into  a  review  of  the 
matter,"  interrupted  Howard. 

"  I  fully  appreciate  your  sensitiveness,"  answered 
Harrell,  "  and  knowing  Kirkwood  as  you  must  it 
would  be  superfluous  for  me  to  dwell  upon  his 
ungentlemanly  disposition." 

"  I  have  no  desire  to  appear  rude,  Mr.  Harrell, 
but  knowing  my  relations  with  Mr.  Kirkwood  as 
you  do,  I  must  remark  that  you  show  poor  taste 
in  speaking  of  him  in  such  terms  in  my  presence," 
said  Howard  with  very  distinct  enunciation. 

"  Oh,  possibly  it  may  appear  so  to  you  at  this 
moment,"  Harrell  answered,  no  more  abashed 
than  if  Howard  had  asked  him  to  have  a  cigar. 
"  But  when  you  hear  my  full  explanation,  the 
case  will  present  a  different  aspect,  I  assure  you. 
Everybody  is  aware  that  Mrs.  Kirkwood  is  a 
charming  lady,  and  that  her  husband  acts  ridicu- 
lously whenever  a  gentleman  in  society  makes 
himself  agreeable  to  her.  In  this  instance  he  has 
treated  me  with  positive  rudeness  to  my  face,  and 
spoken  in  slanderous  terms  of  me  behind  my 
back.  I  have  treated  it  with  indifference,  but 
deem  it  my  duty  to  you,  as  a  friend,  to  inform 


210  A   SOUTHERN    HERITAGE. 

you  of  certain  things  which  my  acquaintance  with 
the  family  threw  in  my  way." 

"  Mr.  Harrell,  you  are  putting  yourself  to  un- 
warranted trouble  in  bringing  me  gossip  about 
the  Kirkwoods.  If  you  please,  we  will  drop  their 
name  out  of  our  brief  conversation." 

"  With  your  pardon,  it  has  nothing  of  the 
nature  of  gossip  in  it,"  continued  Harrell,  refus- 
ing to  be  suppressed.  "  What  I  have  to  tell  you 
is  a  family  secret  of  vast  importance  to  them,  but 
much  more  to  you.  It  will  show  you  Watson 
Kirkwood  in  the  true  light — 

"  What  was  the  source  of  this  alleged  secret?" 
demanded  Howard. 

"I  was  just  coming  to  that  point.  You  know 
Mrs.  Kirkwood — " 

"  Stop !  Are  you  going  to  say  that  Mrs.  Kirk- 
wood divulged  any  information  to  you  that— 

"  Exactly — a  fact  that  you  are  entitled  to 
know." 

"  Harrell,"  exclaimed  Estill,  "  I  prefer  to  be- 
lieve that  you  lie  !  I  prefer  to  believe  that  the 
mother  of  the  girl  I  am  to  marry  is  above  taking 
a  rascal  like  you  into  her  confidence!" 

"  Well,  it  may  not  have  been  a  matter  of  con- 
fidence exactly,  but  that  she  divulged  the  secret, 
intentionally  or  otherwise — ' 

"And  you  are  blackguard  .enough  to  come 
to  me  with  a  family  secret  that  you  accidentally 
learned,  to  vent  your  venomous  spite  against  a 


WAYS  OF  FliNANCE,  LOVE  AND  VENGEANCE.    211 

man  who  admitted  you  as  a  gentleman  into  his 
house  ?" 

"  Pray  don't  be  so  uncomplimentary  till  you 
have  heard  me,"  continued  Harrell.  "  I  wished 
merely  to  do  you  an  act  of  kindness.  If  there  is 
a  skeleton  concealed  in  the  Kirkwood  closet — 
a  secret  which  directly  affects  your  personal 
interests — 

"  Hold,  you  scoundrel !"  exclaimed  Estill,  ad- 
vancing with  ominous  gesture,  "stop  your  vile 
mouth !  Utter  another  word  concerning  any 
member  of  that  family  and  I  will  break  your  jaw ! 
You  came  up  here  like  a  contemptible  villain  to 
poison  my  mind  and  traduce  reputable  people  ! 
It  befits  the  office  of  a  blackmailer!  You  are  a 
viper  among  men  !  Leave  my  premises — and  I 
warn  you  solemnly  that  if  ever  I  hear  one  word 
of  detraction  from  you  concerning  me  or  mine  it 
will  imperil  your  safety  !" 


212  A  SOUTHERN   HERITAGE. 


CHAPTER   XII. 

SOCIAL  SECRETS  AND   SOCIETY  TRIUMPHS. 

IF  Harrell  had  had  designs  upon  Estill's  happi- 
ness, with  or  without  consideration  of  the  Kirk- 
woods,  he  could  not  have  succeeded  better  in 
effecting  them  if  he  had  been  allowed  to  talk  ad 
libitum. 

After  he  had  made  a  very  unceremonious  exit, 
Howard  paced  the  floor  for  an  hour.  His  excite- 
ment would  not  pass  away  readily.  Harrell's 
dark  insinuations  had  sufficiently  disturbed  the 
gray  matter  composing  his  medulla  oblongata  to 
make  an  indelible  impression  there,  and  although 
he  might  continue  to  denounce  the  wretch  to  his 
heart's  content,  and  assume  that  he  was  a  liar  as 
well  as  a  scandal-monger,  he  could  not  unhear  his 
words. 

To  be  sure,  it  was  his  proper  course  to  pay  no 
attention  whatever  to  them.  That  was  what  he 
felt.  It  was  quite  another  thing  to  be  governed 
by  this  gentlemanly  conviction.  High-spirited 
young  men  do  not  like  to  be  haunted  about  dark 
secrets  in  families  they  are  booked  to  marry  into. 
In  spite  of  himself,  he  would  fall  to  wondering 
what  it  could  be.  Perhaps  some  dishonest  trans- 


SOCIAL   SECRETS   AND   SOCIETY   TRIUMPHS.    213 

action  of  Kirkwood's — but  that  would  not  be 
likely  to  remain  ,a  profound  family  secret.  Per- 
haps some  ancestorial  disgrace — less  likely  than 
the  other.  Possibly  it  might  be  ...  heaven 
preserve  them  all!  If  he  was  going  to  run  off 
among  the  possibilities,  there  was  such  a  dark, 
horrible,  agonizing  assortment  to  choose  from 
that  he  shuddered,  and  tried  to  turn  away. 

Then  he  fell  to  meditating  upon  his  unique 
position — was  ever  an  honest,  proper-acting  young 
man  beset  with  such  uncertainties  and  distressing 
problems,  all  brought  about  by  a  marriage  en- 
gagement, which,  from  the  world's  point  of  view, 
seemed  eminently  propitious  and  desirable  ! 

"  It  simply  shows  how  much  the  world  really 
knows  about  us,"  Howard  soliloquized  gloomily; 
adding,  "  about  some  of  us,"  by  way  of  post- 
script. 

It  occurred  to  him  that  it  might  have  been  as 
well,  if  he  had  made  some  quiet  inquiries  about 
the  Kirkwood  family  beforehand.  What  did  he 
really  know  about  Kirkwood's  antecedents  ? 
Practically  nothing.  He  knew  they  had  lived  in 
New  York  for  years,  that  Olive  was  born  there ; 
that  she  had  lived  in  Montreal  awhile  when  she 
was  a  little  girl ;  that  Watson  had  some  remote 
relatives  there — who  were  his  relations,  anyway? 
He  had  never  met  one  of  them  in  his  life ! 
Strange  that  he  had  not  remarked  that  fact 
before.  There  were  some  of  Mrs.  Kirkwood's 


214  A   SOUTHERN    HERITAGE. 

people  living  over  in  Brooklyn — cousins  who 
came  from  Georgia,  as  he  understood.  And 
Mrs.  Kirkvvood  herself — there  he  was,  back  to  his 
original  conundrum.  He  was  satisfied  on  one 
point — that  she  had  ruined  her  health  by  the 
extravagances  and  exposures  of  society  life, 
which  she  began  when  she  ought  to  have  been  still 
in  school.  Late  hours,  dancing,  fashionable  dress- 
ing, artificial  stimulants,  cosmetics — to  say  noth- 
ing about  doctors — that  was  Mrs.  Kirkwood. 
At  least  that  was  all  he  knew  about  her,  and  (he 
had  to  acknowledge  it)  therein  lay  a  good  part 
of  the  rub. 

But  it  made  no  difference — he  was  going  to 
marry  Olive  Kirkvvood.  He  felt  satisfied  that 
she  was  a  good,  innocent  girl,  and  he  was  going 
to  keep  his  engagement  in  spite  of  all  these  dis- 
tressing obstacles.  She  had  promised  to  share 
poverty  with  him,  if  need  be;  and  he  would 
share  disgrace  with  her,  if  any  came. 

But  the  serious  fact  obtruded  that  Mr.  Estill 
was  rapidly  growing  old  under  this  strain  of 
anxiety  and  business  responsibility.  The  clerks 
in  the  office  asked  each  other  why  he  was  so 
moody  and  preoccupied.  Mr.  Kirkwood  did  not 
fail  to  observe  it,  and  remarked  to  himself  that 
his  son-in-law-elect  was  unquestionably  a  peculiar 
character.  There  might  be,  after  all,  one  honest 
man  in  the  world. 

Two  or  three  days  passed  after  Harrell's  un- 


SOCIAL   SECRETS   AND   SOCIETY   TRIUMPHS.    21$ 

fortunate  call,  and  Olive  had  not  yet  returned 
from  Boston.  He  had  the  usual  information  that 
Mrs.  Kirkvvood  was  feeling  poorly,  though  having 
a  great  many  callers ;  and  fearing  to  disturb  her, 
had  not  gone  to  the  house. 

In  the  middle  of  a  busy  afternoon,  a  messenger 
came  down  with  the  communication,  that  Mrs. 
Kirkwood  wanted  very  anxiously  to  see  him 
before  night.  Mr.  Kirkvvood  was  out  of  the 
office.  Howard  did  not  wait  for  his  return,  but 
started  at  once.  There  must  be  something  of 
special  importance,  or  she  would  not  summon 
him  in  that  manner.  Perhaps  she  wanted  to 
have  a  quiet  talk  with  him  alone.  It  was  possible 
that  she  had  something  of  unusual  interest  to  say 
to  him.  It  might  be  the  secret ! 

If  there  was  anything  of  the  skeleton  order  in 
the  household,  and  she  was  aware  that  Harrell 
knew  of  it,  she  might  be  impelled,  for  that 
reason,  to  tell  him,  anticipating  that  the  fellow 
would  divulge  and  exaggerate  it.  Besrdes,  she 
pretended  to  repose  great  confidence  in  him. 
The  more  he  meditated  on  his  way  up-town,  the 
more  probable  it  appeared  that  this  was  her 
object,  and  the  more  devoutly  he  hoped  it  was. 

He  found  Mrs.  Kirkwood  in  an  unusually 
nervous  state,  and  alone.  Even  Hopson  was 
away.  The  footman  was  the  only  servant  visible 
anywhere.  The  house  appeared  never  so  cheer- 
less to  Howard  as  he  entered.  The  day  was  raw 


2l6  A    SOUTHERN    HERITAGE. 

and  inclined  to  be  stormy.  The  prospect  from 
the  windows  was  unpleasing. 

Mrs.  4Kirkwood  received  him  in  her  boudoir. 
She  was  clad  in  a  loose  gown,  and  drew  a  woollen 
wrap  about  her  shoulders.  Her  hair  was  not  by 
any  means  as  artistically  arranged  as  usual.  Al- 
most for  the  first  time,  he  saw  her  without  a 
vestige  of  ornament. 

There  was  something  about  her  appearance 
and  manner  that  impressed  Howard  with  a  feel- 
ing of  pity.  Her  customary  vivacity  of  speech 
seemed  to  be  wanting.  Her  face  did  not  wear 
its  ordinary  composed,  self-complacent  expression, 
and  whether  his  own  state  of  mind  had  anything 
to  do  with  the  impressions  it  received  of  her,  or 
not,  it  was  certain  that  he  had  never  before 
entered  her  presence  under  quite  so  dispiriting 
conditions. 

"  I  hope  you  are  not  feeling  ill  to-day,"  he 
said. 

"  Oh,  I  am  so  awfully  nervous,"  she  replied. 
"Why,  you  can't  imagine  how  I  feel.  And  such 
a  disgusting  day !" 

"  Perhaps  you  have  been  too  much  alone — no 
doubt  you  miss  Olive  terribly." 

"  Yes,  of  course,  but  it  isn't  that,  so  much. 
Come — don't  sit  off  there,  I  can  hardly  see  you  ! 
Sit  here." 

Howard  came  nearer,  and  was  struck  more  for- 
cibly with  the  unhealthy  appearance  of  her  face. 


SOCIAL   SECRETS   AND   SOCIETY   TRIUMPHS.    2 17 

Her  skin  was  wrinkled  and  rough,  of  that  sickly, 
rusty  complexion  that  the  continued  use  of  cos- 
metics leaves,  and  there  was  absolutely  no  lustre 
at  all  in  her  eyes ;  those  eyes  that  were  so  famous 
for  their  color,  and  whose  artful  glances  had  set 
so  many  hearts  to  beating  wildly. 

"  No  doubt  you  have  been  over-exerting  your- 
self," he  remarked. 

"  I  haven't  been  out  of  my  room  to-day.  I 
haven't  seen  a  soul.  I  have  been  saving  my 
strength  for  to-night — for  the  Grand  Duke's  ball 
at  the  Academy — and  it's  so  terribly  provoking  to 
feel  worse  than  ever !" 

"  That  is  discouraging,"  replied  Howard  sympa- 
thetically. "  And  the  weather  is  conspiring  with 
your  nerves  to  keep  you  at  home." 

"  But  I  won't  submit  !  I  must  go — and  I 
will!  "  Oh,  don't  be  startled  because  I  jump  so. 
Every  little  noise  sets  me  off.  I  wish  people 
would  drive  more  carefully  when  they  pass  here ! 
No  one  seems  to  have  the  least  bit  of  regard  !" 

"  Come,  don't  allow  yourself  to  notice  such 
insignificant  things — it's  half  in  the  imagination." 

"  That's  right,  lecture  me — everybody  seems 
called  upon  to  do  that!" 

"  Indeed,  I  had  no  such  intention — 

"  Oh,  don't  mind — I'm  glad  you  came,  anyway. 
I  wanted  to  talk  with  you." 

"  I'm  very  glad  you  did,"  answered  Howard 
hopefully. 


2l8  A   SOUTHERN   HERITAGE. 

"  You  see,  Hopson's  sister,  or  somebody,  took 
ill,  and  the  poor  soul  has  to  neglect  me ;  and 
Jeanette  had  to  go  somewhere — somebody  of  her's 
dying,  I  believe.  It's  strange  what  terrible'incon- 
veniences  deaths  are,  .isn't  it?  I  really  wonder 
how  I  will  look  as  a  corpse  !" 

"  Pshaw,  now,  that's  something  you  shouldn't 
worry  about." 

"  But  other  invalids  worry  me,  and  just  at  a 
time  when  I  intend  ':o  go  to  the  Grand  Duke's 
reception.  Oh,  dear!" 

"  Things  do  go  wrong  sometimes,"  Howard 
assented. 

"  Bless  me !  how  awfully  fidgety  I  am — don't 
you  notice  it  ?  Really,  it's  agonizing!" 

"You  .do  seem  to  be  somewhat  uneasy,  but 
don't  think  about  it." 

"  Hear  the  boy  talk  !  '  Don't  think  ' — the  idea  ! 
Goodness'  sakes  alive,  how  I  do  wish  that  window 
over  there  would  stop  rattling  !" 

"  Which  one  ?  I  haven't  heard  a  click  of  it." 
And  Howard  proceeded  to  examine  the  frames. 

"  Oh,  not  these — I  mean  the  ones  over  there — 
across  the  street !" 

"  Why,  heaven  save  you,  Mrs.  Kirkwood,  you 
can't  hear  a  sound  from  those  windows." 

"  It  doesn't  make  any  difference — I  can  see 
that  it  is  going  on  !  How  ?  Why,  by  the  reflec- 
tions of  the  trees  in  the  panes — just  see  them  jog 


SOCIAL   SECRETS  AND   SOCIETY   TRIUMPHS.    219 

back  and  forth  ?  Oh,  I  know  they  are  rattling 
terribly  !" 

"  I'll  send  word  for  them  to  use  weather-strips," 
Howard  kindly  promised. 

"You  are  a  dear,  good  boy — but  they  will  be 
so  obstinate  they  won't  mind  you — oh,  I  know 
how  everybody  is  when  my  comfort  is  concerned  | 
If  you  had  ever  been  racked  with  neuralgia  you 
would  know  how  to  sympathize  with  me  !" 

Howard  said  he  could  anyway. 

"  I  feel  as  if  I  was  going  to  have  erysipelas,  too  ! 
Now  isn't  it  terrible  ?" 

"  Horrid  to  think  of,"  assented  Howard. 

"  But  a  thousand  times  worse  to  have  !  Why 
can't  a  man  be  made  to  feel  sometimes  what  a 
woman  has  to  endure?" 

Howard  tried  to  humor  her,  and  lead  her  mind 
to  pleasanter  subjects. 

"  Oh,  I  can't  talk  about  anything  while  I'm 
feeling  so,"  she  declared.  "  I  want  you  to  help 
me — 

"  Didn't  you  wish  to  tell  me  something  ?"  he 
( asked. 

"That  is  just  it.  That  is  why  I  sent  for  you — 
I  want  to  take  you  into  my  confidence." 

Howard  believed  that  he  was  getting  very  near 
to  the  secret,  and  readily  promised  her  loyalty 
and  sympathy. 

"  You  must  not  tell  Mr.  Kirkwood,  will  you  ? — 


220  A   SOUTHERN   HERITAGK. 

not  even  Olive  ?  For  you  know,  they  can  not 
understand  how  I  feel !" 

"  Probably  not  at  all,"  replied  Howard  evasively. 

"  It's  cruel,  and  that's  why  I  am  going  to  con- 
fide in  you.  Now,  you  must  promise — " 

"  Certainly— tell  me  what  it  is." 

"  I  want  you  to  get  me  a  few  grains  of  mor- 
phine." 

Howard  started.  It  was  so  entirely  unexpected 
that  he  hardly  knew  what  to  reply. 

"  Only  a  very  little,"  she  continued,  "  and  you 
needn't  say  anything  to  them  about  it.  There, 
go  now,  before  anybody  comes  home." 

"  Indeed,  you  disturb  me,  Mrs.  Kirkwood,"  he 
stammered.  "If  Mr.  Kirkwood  doesn't  desire 
you  to  have  such  a  dangerous  drug,  it  is  without 
doubt — because  he  feels — ' 

"  Now  don't  go  to  telling  me  how  danger- 
ous it  is,  and  what  it  will  do — I  know  all  about 
it  !  There's  no  danger  of  my  contracting  the 
habit — I  need  only  a  very  little,  and  nothing  else 
will  do." 

"  Does  the  doctor  prescribe  it  for  you  ?  " 

"  Oh,  the  doctor  has  given  it  to  me  a  hundred 
times!" 

"  Then  why  don't  you  send  for  him  ?  " 

"They  have  made  him  believe  it  isn't  good 
for  me,  and  he  is  quite  as  foolish  as  they  are  ! 
Oh,  dear,  why  will  people  be  so  stubborn  and 
silly !  And  see  me  ready  to  fly  to  pieces  !  " 


SOCIAL   SECRETS   AND   SOCIETY    TRIUMPHS.    221 

"  I'm  really  very  sorry  for  you,  Mrs.  Kirkwood, 
but—" 

"  What,  an't  you  going  to  get  it  for  me  ?  You 
promised  you  would — oh,  you  did — and  you  are 
not  going  to  be  so  unkind  as  to  refuse.  Oh, 
Howard,  dear  Howard,  please — please  get  me  a 
little  morphine — please  do — only  two  grains  !" 

Howard  Estill's  feelings  at  this  moment  were 
all  but  overpowering.  The  discovery  that  Mrs. 
Kirkwood  was  addicted  to  the  use  of  the  vile  drug, 
her  pleadings,  his  awkward  position,  quite  discon- 
certed him. 

"  Mrs.  Kirkwood,"  he  said,  at  length,  "  I  do 
not  feel  that  it  would  be  right  for  me  to  do  as 
you  request.  Surely  not  without  the  sanction 
either  of  Mr.  Kirkwood  or  your  physician." 

"  Oh,  dear,  you  are  as  unfeeling  as  they  !  I 
truly  believe  that  you  are  all  conspiring  to  get 
me  out  of  the  way.  Well,  you  will  accomplish 
your  ends — I  won't  last  long!  " 

"  You  do  us  a  great  injustice  Mrs.  Kirkwood," 
Howard  replied  firmly.  "  It  is  not  right  for  you 
to  accuse  us  of  such  wicked  motives.  If  Mr. 
Kirkwood  takes  this  course  I  dare  say  he  has  fair 
reason  and  advice  to  warrant  it.  As  much  as  I 
would  like  to  serve  you,  I  must  decline  to  do  it 
in  a  surreptitious  manner." 

Mrs.  Kirkwood  shed  a  few  tears,  but  finding 
Howard  firm,  attempted  to  become  more  indif- 
ferent, and  came  near  growing  hysterical. 


222  A   SOUTHERN   HERITAGE. 

Before  Howard  left  the  house,  Mr.  Kirkwood 
arrived  home.  He  went  to  him  promptly,  and 
told  him  his  experience. 

"  I'm  sorry  to  hear  it,  my  boy,"  remarked 
Watson.  "  It  is  an  unpleasant  thing  to  confront. 
Mrs.  Kirwwood  was  doctored  with  the  damned 
stuff  till  she  has  grown  to  require  it  constantly, 
and  I  have  feared  for  some  time  that  the  habit 
was  growing  upon  her.  Last  week  I  changed 
doctors,  and  we  determined  to  stop  it,  if  possible. 
For  several  days  he  reduced  the  doses,  and 
finally  withdrew  it  altogether.  This  week  we 
sent  Hopson  and  some  other  servants  away  on 
one  pretext  or  another ;  I  gave  the  stableman 
strict  orders  not  to  send  her  any  carriage,  in- 
structed the  footman,  and  we  hoped  it  would  be 
impossible  for  her  to  get  a  supply.  I  suppose, 
however,  that  she'll  get  it  someway." 

Mr.  Kirkwood  was  quite  right  in  his  supposi- 
tion. His  dearly  beloved  (conventionally  speak- 
ing) had  wits,  and  used  them.  Very  soon  after 
Howard  left  her  Hopson  returned.  Now  Hop- 
son  had  strict  orders,  but  she  was  not  proof 
against  the  coaxing  and  commanding  and  cajoling, 
and,  above  all,  the  bribery,  of  her  mistress.  Hop- 
son  capitulated.  She  made  one  or  two  clandes- 
tine excursions  from  the  house,  bringing  back 
various  small  parcels,  and  about  eight  o'clock 
began,  with  the  assistance  of  Jeannette,  the 
laborious  process  of  dressing  Mrs.  Kirkwood. 


SOCIAL  SECRETS  AND   SOCIETY   TRIUMPHS.    223 

There  was  much  system  to  be  observed.  The 
subject  must  not  be  exhausted  in  the  mere  prep- 
arations. She  had  been  without  morphine  for 
three  days,  hence  she  critically  calculated  that  its 
effects  would  be  unusually  exhilarating. 

"  Bless  you,  Hopson,  you  dear,  exasperating 
thing,"  exclaimed  Mrs.  Kirkwood,  when  the 
woman  returned  with  the  indispensable  ingredient; 
"give  me^only  a  quarter  of  a  grain  noiv — just 
enough  for  a  slight  stimulant  while  I  am  dress- 
ing." 

This  was  swallowed  after  her  bath,  which  was 
taken  in  tepid  sea-salt  water,  as  being  the 'most 
stimulating,  with  a  light  after  ablution  in  soft 
water,  scented  with  rose-fragrance.  When  the 
articles  of  flexible  silk,  and  most  delicate  white, 
fringed  with  embroidered  art,  had  been  donned 
with  the  least  possible  exertion,  Jeannette,  an 
artiste  of  mysterious  skill,  began  wooing  back  the 
lost  favors  of  Youth,  in  a  way  that  came  near  throw- 
ing envious  Father  Time  into  a  "  conniption  "  fit. 

First,  madam's  neck  and  arms,  as  well  as  her 
face,  were  not  as  smooth  and  soft  as  they  once 
had  been.  Her  skin  was  beginning  to  show  a 
slight  effect  of  shrinkage,  or  contraction,  while 
here  and  there  were  positive  wrinkles.  Jeannette 
opened  small  jars  of  almond  cream  and  cocoa 
butter,  and  began  a  rapid  application  which  soft- 
ened and  enlivened  the  cuticle,  and  added  a 
brighter  smoothness  to  throat  and  shoulders. 


224  A   SOUTHERN   HERITAGE. 

This  Jeannette  accomplished  with  the  adroit  touch 
of  a  sculptor,  rubbing  and  modelling  in  such  a 
manner  as  to  obliterate  all  suspicion  of  angles 
and  emaciation. 

Then  the  top  was  taken  off  from  another  small 
porcelain  box,  which  contained  a  secret  prepara- 
tion labelled  inascaro,  and  into  which  the  artiste 
dipped  a  dainty  brush.  With  this  she  went  over 
the  eyebrows,  touching  them  into  n\pre  perfect 
outlines,  and  imparting  to  them  a  deeper  color. 
Even  the  eyelashes  were  carefully  tinted  and 
made  to  appear  longer  and  more  drooping. 

And  yet  the  acme  of  artistic  skill  had  not  been 
reached.  True,  the  almond  cream  had  charmed 
away  the  crow's  feet,  and  the  modelling  had  done 
much  to  discourage  the  approaching  effect  of 
hollowness,  but  still  the  face  was  far  from  per- 
fect. 

Mrs.  Kirkvvood,  seated  close  before  her  mirror 
in  a  flood  of  searching  light,  watched  every  mo- 
tion with  eager  anticipation,  not  refraining  from 
frequent  admonitions  and  advisory  suggestions. 

"Madam  must  not  be  impatient,"  Jeannette 
would  say. 

"  But  you  are  making  my  face  look  long,  Jean- 
nette. .  .  ." 

"  Pardon,  madam,  I  have  done  nothing  to  it 
yet — wait  till  it  is  finished." 

This  was  not  a  very  politic  answer  for  poor 
Jeannette  to  make,  for  it  clearly  implied  that  age, 


SOCIAL   SECRETS   AND   SOCIETY   TRIUMPHS.   22$ 

and  not  her  awkwardness,  was  making    inroads 
upon  Mrs.  Kirkwood's  beauty. 

"  For  heaven's  sake  Jeannette,  don't  exasperate 
me  so  !  "  exclaimed  Jeannette's  subject ;  "  you 
must  have  more  regard  for  my  weakness  and 


nerves 


"  Oh,  it  will  soon  be  done,  madam — and  the 
effect  will  be  delightful,  magnificent,"  replied 
Jeannette  encouragingly.  The  while  she  began 
going  over  the  carefully  composed  face  with  al- 
most invisible  application  of  rose-leaves,  beginning 
high  up  and  shading  down.  Her  very  motions 
were  marked  by  graceful  curves,  as  if  she  would 
have  feared  to  mar  the  picture  by  imparting  to  it 
something  unpleasing,  if-she  had  been  violent  or 
awkward. 

A  soft  pinky  hue,  born  of  these  blandishments, 
spread  over  the  cheeks,  masquerading  in  the 
grateful  guise  of  the  complexion  of  health  and  a 
happy  disposition.  That  was  true  art ;  and 
heightened  by  the  perfect  contour  that  the  round- 
ing and  shading  produced — an  effect  of  girlish 
plumpness. 

And  now,  after  Hopson,  who  had  been  busy 
all  this  time  laying  out  and  inspecting  the  grand 
rote  and  jewels,  had  administered  another 
"fourth"  of  morphine,  Jeannette  turned  her 
attention  to  Mrs.  Kirkwood's  hair. 

Perhaps  madam's  wavy  locks  of  natural  blonde 
were  fading  a  trifle  here  and  there — losing  just 


226  A   SOUTHERN    HERITAGE. 

a  very  little  of  the  luster  of  youth  (for  blondes  do 
not  silver),  and  appearing  rusty  by  contrast  ? 
Most  surely.  But,  happy  souls!  Jeannette  didn't 
speak  of  it  in  that  way.  She  suggested  that  a 
very  little  tinging  would  enhance  the  general 
harmony.  Madam  consented. 

So  Jeannette  deftly  touches  up  those  rusty 
spots  with  peroxide  of  hydrogen,  and  makes  them 
bright.  The  pretty  tresses  are  brushed  and  car- 
essed as  if  the  dresser  were  coaxing  them  into  a 
willing  mood.  Everything  had  progressed  beauti- 
fully so  far  (everything  considered),  and  now  if 
the  hair  can  only  be  made  a  success  !  Carefully 
and  gently  the  folds  are  made,  and  the  light 
primping  done.  Everything  must  be  sacrificed 
to  produce  a  youthful  effect — Jeannette  knows 
that  by  instinct.  It  is  lapped  low  behind,  and 
worked  into  enchanting  undulations. 

Then  the  hairdresser  stands  back  to  survey  it 
from  a  distance,  and  Mrs.  Kirkwood,  more  whim- 
sical about  this  part  of  her  toilette  than  any  other, 
complains  that  it  is  horrid !  They  try  again. 
The  undulations  and  frizzes  are  brought  lower 
around  her  temples  and  forehead,  the  roll  behind 
is  made  to  appear  heavier  and  thicker,  the  jewelled 
comb  is  inserted — oh,  who  could  complain  of  it 
now? 

Mrs.  Kirkwood  says  she  thinks  it  will  do.  Be- 
ing now  in  a  state  of  high-finish,  and  feeling  the 
exhilarating  effects  of  her  medicine,  she  proceeds 


SOCIAL   SECRETS   AND    SOCIETY   TRIUMPHS.    22? 

to  a  short  rehearsal  before  the  glass.  Where  one 
cannot  be  made  up  exactly  the  same  every  time, 
there  is  need  to  study  the  expressions  that  are 
best  suited  to  the  occasion.  Mrs.  Kirkwood  had 
a  large  and  varied  assortment  of  smiles  and 
glances,  and  she  rapidly  tried  on  one  after  another. 
Extremes,  of  course,  were  to  be  avoided. 

There  was  something  not  altogether  right. 
Suddenly  she  sank  down  with  an  exclamation  that 
amounted  almost  to  a  scream. 

"  Jeannette — Jeannette  ! — what  have  you  done  ? 
Can't  you  see — you  have  entirely  forgotten  my 
dimple ! " 

Heavens,  it  was  true !  Jeannette  had  shaded 
right  over  the  place  where  the  dimple  came  when 
the  owner  of  it  smiled  her  most  bewitching,  and 
made  no  calculation  for  it  at  all!  Hence  the 
effect  was  almost  lost — at  least  greatly  weakened. 

She  had  to  erase  a  considerable  space  and 
work  it  over  again,  shading  artfully  around  the 
dimpled  spot,  so  that  it  became  too  tempting  for 
explanation,  when  the  smile  warmed  it  into  life. 

This  mishap  retarded  the  general  progress 
somewhat,  but  still  Mrs.  Kirkwood  was  deter- 
mined not  to  get  into  a  flurry — every  degree  of 
strength  and  animation  must  be  husbanded. 
Hopson  finished  dressing  her,  then  hurriedly 
donned  her  own  wraps.  For  Hopson  must  go 
too,  and  take  along  restoratives. 

Before  assuming  her  overrobe,  Mrs.  Kirkwood 


228  A   SOUTHERN   HERITAGE. 

leaned  very  carefully  back  upon  a  couch,  while 
Jeannette  stooped  over  her  with  a  small  glass  tube, 
topped  with  a  rubber  bulb.  In  it  was  bella- 
donna. 

"  For  goodness  sake  be  careful,  Jeannette,  if 
you  should  let  a  drop  of  it  run  down  my  face  I 
would  be  ruined !"  said  Mrs.  Kirkvvood,  in  the 
most  cautionary  tones.  But  no  such  calamity 
was  permitted  to  occur.  Jeannette,  with  steady 
hand,  and  almost  imperceptible  pressure  upon 
the  rubber  bulb,  dropped  a  large  drop  of  the 
strange  fluid  into  each  of  Mrs.  Kirkwood's  eyes, 
and  cautiously  soaked  up  the  overflow  with  a 
dainty  handkerchief. 

"  It  is  too  bad  this  can  not  be  done  at  first," 
sighed  Mrs.  Kirkwood,  "  but  if  it  were,  the  effect 
would  be  gone  before  I  reached  the  ball-room." 

"  Indeed,  ma'am,  they  are  looking  brighter 
already,"  remarked  Hopson.  After  which  she 
opened  the  morphine  again,  administered  a 
''half"  this  time — and  the  Radiant  Result  was 
freed  from  the  artistes'  hands. 

It  was  nearly  half-past  ten  when  Floyd  Clay- 
court,  who  had  been  imperatively  summoned  as 
escort,  saw  a  mass  of  white  satin  and  ermine 
folded  carefully  somehow  descending  the  stairs. 
From  the  characteristic  greeting  he  received, 
though  in  muffled  tones,  he  felt  convinced  that 
his  aunt  was  inside. 

Howard  Estill  had  not  expected  to  attend  the 


SOCIAL   SECRETS   AND   SOCIETY   TRIUMPHS.    22Q 

ball  at  the  Academy  of  Music  in  honor  of  the 
Russian  Grand  Duke.  By  an  unfortunate  coin- 
cidence, Olive  was  booked  to  act  as  bridesmaid 
to  her  friend  in  Boston,  whose  wedding  occurred 
the  same  day — for  after  a  wedding  is  once 
arranged  for,  it  is  inconvenient  to  postpone  even 
for  the  coming  of  emperors. 

On  that  account  Howard  had  not  troubled  him- 
self much  in  the  way  of  anticipation.  But  the 
general  enthusiasm  grew  to  so  high  a  pitch,  and 
it  promised  to  prove  such  a  very  notable  affair, 
that  at  almost  the  last  hour  he  changed  his  mind. 

"  It  seems  to  me  like  a  vast  deal  of  nonsense 
and  flunkeyism  to  make  such  a  terrible  fuss  over 
a  fellow  who  hasn't  done  anything — and  whose 
only  record  is  being  the  son  of  a  formidable  old 
tyrant !  Anyway — I  guess  I'll  go  down  to  the 
ball  for  awhile." 

So  he  dressed  and  went.  The  Academy  pre- 
sented an  unusually  brilliant  appearance,  and  it 
seemed  as  if  everybody  in  town  was  coming. 
"  I'm  really  very  sorry  that  poor  Mrs.  Kirkwood 
couldn't  come."  soliloquized  he,  working  his  way, 
not  without  cosiderable  effort,  through  the  throng 
about  the  cloak-room ;  "  she  no  doubt  feels  it 
very  keenly,  being  compelled  to  remain  housed 
up,  in  her  dilapidated  condition,  and  knowing 
that  such  a  swell  affair  as  this  is  occurring.  How 
she  would  have  revelled  in  this  splendor  and 
gaiety,  if  she  could  have  come  !  But  she's  badly 


230  A   SOUTHERN   HERITAGE. 

shattered,  poor  woman,  and  not  likely  to  be  out 
for  many  a  day." 

A  moment  later,  as  he  stood  watching  the 
glittering  promenade  and  taking  mental  notes  of 
toilets  most  attractive  and  original,  a  vision  of 
surpassing  splendor  hovered  near,  upon  which 
were  eagerly  turned  a  host  of  admiring  eyes. 
Estill  was  all  but  stunned  speechless  and  motion- 
less— it  was  his  prospective  mother-in-law  upon 
the  arm  of  Floyd  Claycourt !  Was  it  possible  ! — 
could  human  hand  have  wrought  this  marvellous 
change  in  six  short  hours  !  Of  all  dimorphous 
characters,  she  was  the  most  astounding  he  had 
ever  dreamed  of.  There  was  elasticity  in  her 
step,  and  vivacity  in  her  countenance,  while  her 
toilet  dimmed  the  brilliancy  of  those  immediately 
about  her. 

She  wore  with  queenly  fascination  a  princess 
robe  of  pearl-white  satin,  effulgent  with  crusted 
silver.  There  was  an  indefinable  individuality  in 
the  drapery,  which  fell  in  an  almost  unbroken 
line,  from  the  bust  to  the  hem  of  the  garment, 
yet  clinging  lightly,  with  dreamy  undulations,  to 
her  seemingly  faultless  figure. 

The  front  was  of  rarest  white  brocaded  satin, 
whose  snowy  field  was  resplendently  relieved 
with  silver  china  asters.  Flowing  more  amply 
from  just  below  the  shoulders,  the  back  of  white 
duchess  satin  still  clung  to  the  figure  closely 
enough  to  suggest  a  graceful  outline — soft  and 


SOCIAL   SECRETS   AND   SOCIETY    TRIUMPHS.    231 

rich,  yet  plain  in  contrast  with  the  gorgeously 
infoliated  front.  This  swept  away  into  a  heavy 
train,  yet  not  of  excessive  length. 

The  voluptuous  garment  was  cut  rounded — 
very  low  in  the  front  and  down  to  the  shoulders 
in  the  back,  exposing  a  bust  perfect  and  white 
"and  smooth  as  monumental  alabaster."  Fol- 
lowing this  oval-shaped  line  was  a  magnificent 
rounding  collar  of  superbest  point  lace,  six  inches 
wide,  and  rich  with  antiquity.  From  the  shoul- 
ders downward,  it  fell  over  immense  puffed  sleeves. 
Extending  well  up  her  dimpled  arms  were  im- 
maculate undress  kid  gloves. 

As  she  stepped  there  were  visible  upon  her 
dainty  feet  exquisite  silver  shoes,  covering  white 
silk  stockings,  and  bearing  heart-shaped  diamond 
buckles.  She  carried  a  very  large  fan  of  most 
beautiful  white  ostrich  feathers,  from  the  centre 
of  which  lifted  a  matchless  aigrette.  The  handle 
was  of  white  pearl,  set  with  diamonds.  From 
the  back  fold  of  her  light,  wavy  hair,  there  rose 
an  old-fashioned  rounding-shaped  pearl  comb, 
studded  with  diamonds,  and  a  splendid  diamond 
necklace  encircled  her  throat.  Pendents  of  flaw- 
less white  solitaires  sparkled  from  her  ears,  and 
as  she  walked  she  seemed  a  yielding  form  of 
jewelled  whiteness. 

Howard  Estill  gazed  upon  this  soft  blaze  of 
glory  and  inspiration  of  loveliness  like  one  hyp- 
notized. His  breath  came  short  and  quick,  and 


232  A  SOUTHERN   HERITAGE. 

a  vague  suspicion  entered  his  mind  that  he  was 
in  the  midst  of  one  of  those  ecstatic  dreams  that 
sometimes  entrance  us  in  sleep,  and  that  Mrs. 
Kirkwood  was  really  still  at  home  in  despair. 
Before  he  had  fairly  recovered  from  this  anhela- 
tion  she  was  close  upon  him — he  saw  her  radia- 
ting smile,  and  heard  her  musical  voice.  He 
stepped  forward  with  trepidation,  not  unmixed 
with  reverence. 

She  laughed  quite  merrily  when  he  expressed 
his  congratulations  and  pleasure. 

"  Ha !  ha !  you  did  not  comprehend  the  full 
meaning  of  my  words,  when  I  told  you  that  I 
must  come,"  she  said.  "  Alas,  I  fear  you  are 
very  much  such  a  tyrant  as  Mr.  Kirkwood  !  " 

While  they  were  speaking  there  was  an  un- 
usual flutter  and  commotion  in  the  assemblage. 
The  illustrious  personage  before  whom  all  Gotham 
was  bending  its  adulating  knees  was  at  that  mo- 
ment entering.  It  was  the  Grand  Duke  Alexis. 
Everybody  gazed  with  breathless  intensity.  They 
saw  a  well-formed  young  man,  of  medium  height. 
His  manner  was  self-composed,  and  it  was  at  once 
evident  that  he  possessed  talents  for  being  stared 
at.  His  face  was  oval,  rather  pleasant,  his  dark 
hair  brushed  back,  exposing  a  good  forehead, 
while  small  patches  of  downy  beard  nestled  in 
front  of  his  ears.  He  was  dressed  simply — in  a 
naval  frock  coat,  with  open  lappels,  and  two 
large  stars  glittered  upon  his  breast. 


SOCIAL   SECRETS   AND   SOCIETY   TRIUMPHS.    233 

He  bore  upon  his  arm  Mrs.  Governor  Hoffman, 
and  closely  following,  or  clustering  about  him, 
with  ladies,  were  such  dignitaries  as  His  Excel- 
lency, the  Governor ;  the  Russian  Minister,  Cata- 
cazy  ;  the  Russian  Admiral  Poisset  ;  Major-Gen- 
eral Dix,  General  McDowell,  and  a  host  of  lesser 
satellites.  And — perhaps  most  remarked  of  all- 
keeping  close  to  the  sacred  personage,  was  a 
gorgeously  uniformed  officer  of  the  Russian  Im- 
perial Guards,  a  young  man  of  almost  heroic  size 
and  figure,  and  impressively  handsome.  It  would 
be  difficult  to  imagine  a  character  of  more  pic- 
turesque, yet  formidable,  appearance.  He  wore 
a  scarlet  dolman,  extravagantly  embroidered  with 
gold,  while  a  jacket  of  sheep-skin  trimmed  with 
sable  fur  hung  from  his  massive  shoulders.  His 
boots  were  marvels,  and  gems  glittered  in  his 
girdle.  In  the  delirium  of  excitement  many  mis- 
took him  for  the  prince,  and  trembled  in  awful 
admiration. 

The  crush  became  all  but  maddening.  Wher- 
ever the  grand  duke  moved  the  throng  surged 
around  him  with  curiosity  and  wonderment  in 
their  looks.  Those  who  succeeded  in  being 
jostled  against  him  were  happy  beyond  expres- 
sion. In  the  eagerness  to  gain  a  position  near 
his  person  very  little  ceremony  was  observed. 

"  Such  a  paroxysm  of  adulation  is  positively 
disgusting  !  "  growled  Estill.  "  It  is  the  very 


234  A   SOUTHERN   HERITAGE. 

height  of  absurdity — but,  bless  you,  dear  fellow, 
the  Americans  DO  love  a  prince  !  " 

"  But  he's  such  a  remarkably  fine  specimen," 
replied  Claycourt,  as  if  in  extenuation.  And  it 
must  frankly  be  admitted  that  Alexis  carried 
himself  like  a  soldier  and  a  gentleman.  His  ap- 
pearance was  not  as  imposing  here  as  on  the  day 
of  his  landing-reception,  when  he  wore  the  full- 
dress  black  uniform,  with  the  imperial  cross  and 
medal  of  his  regiment.  Nevertheless,  he  was 
universally  declared  a  handsome  man.  In  the 
jostle  and  even  rudeness  of  the  crowd,  he  gave 
no  indication  of  impatience,  but  conversed 
fluently  and  easily,  and  was  perfectly  tranquil  in 
what  must  have  been  equally  an  embarrassing 
and  disagreeable  situation. 

There  was  no  attempt  at  dancing  till  after  the 
banquet,  when  a  part  of  the  throng  had  dispersed. 
By  that  hour  Mrs.  Kirkwood  was  greatly  ex- 
hausted, but  sought  Hopson  in  the  retiring 
rooms,  ^and  was  soon  revivified.  During  this 
time  Estill  and  Claycourt  happened  together 
again. 

"  My  dear  boy,"  exclaimed  Floyd,  "  it's  simply 
frightful — the  eagerness  of  the  girls  to  dance  with 
the  duke  !  Have  you  seen  any  of  it  ?  " 

"  Have  I  seen  it !  "  replied  Estill,  with  a  slight 
curl  to  his  lip.  "  It  affected  me  so  that  I  came 
away !  Isn't  it  sad  to  contemplate — the  dis- 
appointed hearts  there  will  be  when  it  is  over  ! 


SOCIAL   SECRETS  AND   SOCIETY  TRIUMPHS.   235 

Poor  things — there  are  a  thousand  of  them  wild 
with  the  ambition,  and  Alexis  is  not  likely  to 
dance  more  than  three  or  four  times.  Just  think 
of  the  blighted  hopes  that  will  be  taken  home  to 
bed  !  " 

The  music  was  ravishing.  The  first  number  on 
the  programme  was  finished,  and  one  adorable 
triumph  had  been  scored.  The  second  followed 
immediately,  and  another  heart  was  saved  from 
bitter  disappointment.  The  Duke  was  doing 
grandly.  And  constantly  near  him  hovered  the 
gorgeously-uniformed  officer  of  the  Imperial 
Guards.  His  keen  eyes  were  ever  alert ;  it  is  pos- 
sible for  madmen  with  evil  designs  against  rulers 
of  the  earth  to  penetrate  any  assemblage,  and 
Alexis  was  too  precious  to  leave  unguarded  a 
single  moment. 

Floyd  Claycourt  watched  the  gilded  Hercules 
narrowly  for  awhile,  and  during  this  quadrille 
horrified  his  fair  partner,  by  whispering  ominously 
that  he  had  caught  a  glimpse  of  something  with 
a  jewelled  handle  under  the  sheep-skin  jacket ! 

At  the  third  number  the  Duke  was  missing. 
The  music  sounded  harsh,  the  glare  of  the  gas- 
lights seemed  to  have  contracted  an  unusual  dim- 
ness, enthusiasm  had  departed,  and  the  poetry  of 
motion  appeared  to  have  a  hard  time  of  it  to  keep 
out  of  slovenly  lines. 

"  Really,  I  must  look  up  my  poor  aunt,"  said 
Floyd. 


236  A  SOUTHERN   HERITAGE. 

"  I  don't  imagine  that  you  have  been  badly 
missed,"  replied  Howard.  "  I  saw  her  the  centre 
of  a  very  interesting  set  a  few  minutes  ago.  But 
I  think  you  had  better  bundle  her  off  home  as 
soon  as  possible.  I  am  fearful  of  the  conse- 
quences of  such  an  orgy — and  just  think,  suppos- 
ing she  should  collapse  flat  on  our  hands ! " 

But  Floyd  could  not  readily  find  her,  and  came 
rambling  back.  "  Wonder  if  she's  really  been 
dancing  ?  "  he  said.  Howard  was  about  to  reply, 
"  Impossible,"  but,  remembering  her  other  per- 
formances, remained  silent. 

The  fourth  number  was  announced.  Would 
the  grand  duke  dance? — that  was  the  burning 
question ! 

Prince  Alexis  Romanoff,  grand  duke  of  all  the 
Russias,  had  looked  around  him  at  the  cheap  and 
tawdry  efforts  at  splendor,  and  came  near  sighing 
in  weariness.  He  felt  in  his  heart  the  emptiness 
of  the  display,  and  half  smiled.  But  the  wealth  of 
feminine  loveliness  around  him  re-awakened  his 
waning  interest.  Their  brilliancy,  at  least,  was 
unsurpassed  in  the  land  of  snows  and  tyranny. 

Alexis  was  susceptible  to  the  alluring  beauty  of 
rare  gems — likewise  of  women.  Wherever  his 
eye  rested,  the  object  was  quickly  observed  by 
all.  This  time  it  rested  longer  than  usual — the 
Prince  would  dance  again. 

"  Yes,  he  is  coming  out,"  exclaimed  Floyd.  "It 
is  to  be  a  quadrille.  I  wonder  who  he  has  now  ? 


SOCIAL  SECRETS  AND   SOCIETY  TRIUMPHS.   237 

What  ! — Estill,  Estill,  do  you  see  ! — its  our 
aunt !  " 

Estill  saw,  and  stood  for  a  moment  speechless 
with  astonishment.  There  she  was,  radiant,  smil- 
ing, sparkling  on  the  Duke's  arm  !  They  passed 
near — the  imperial  prince  was  speaking  to  her  in 
French.  Her  glances  had  never  been  more  cap- 
tivating— there  was  a  perfect  halo  of  glory  around 
her,  a  glory  that  she  would  not  have  sacrificed 
had  she  died  the  next  hour ! 

She  never  danced  more  lightly.  Every  move- 
ment was  a  graceful  undulation.  And  when  the 
quadrille  was  finished  Alexis  is  reported  to  have 
remarked  confidentially  to  Admiral  Poisset,  that 
she  was  "  otzen  preckrasnaja  e  umnaja  zenscina," 
which  a  newspaper  reporter  immediately  informed 
the  world  is  Russo-jaroslav,  or  Cossack-vodka,  for 
"  bewitchingly  attractive  and  interesting  woman, 
don't  you  know  !  " 

Mrs.  Kirkwood  was  immediately  taken  by  her 
proud  nephew  and  placed  under  Hopson's  care. 
There  was  a  strange  palpitation  about  her  heart, 
and  her  difficult  breathing  showed  plainly  that 
her  triumph  had  taxed  her  endurance  to  very 
nearly  its  furthest  limit. 

Howard  Estill  watched  anxiously  by  the  door 
to  see  her  depart.  When  she  came  out,  he  saw 
that  she  walked  less  steadily  and  leaned  heavily 
upon  Claycourt.  In  spite  of  her  determined 
efforts  to  conceal  it,  there  was  a  look  of  pain 


238  A  SOUTHERN   HERITAGE. 

upon  her  face.  He  assisted  her  in  getting  through 
the  crowd,  and  when  he  bade  her  good-night, 
noticed  that  she  could  scarcely  speak  in  reply. 
Her  lip  trembled,  anq!  when  she  was  lifted  into 
her  carriage,  she  sank  in  Hopson's  ,arms  with  a 
groan  of  distress. 

But  such  a  triumph — it  was  worth  a  hundred 
times  more  than  it  had  cost  I 


A   REVELATION   AND  A   RESULT.  239 

CHAPTER     XIII. 

A  REVELATION  AND   A   RESULT. 

MRS.  KiRKWOOD's  "  next  morning,"  after  her 
night  of  glorious  dissipation  and  victory,  set  in 
exceedingly  early,  and  in  point  of  intensity  sur- 
passed all  previous  periods  of  reaction.  It  seemed 
possessed  of  an  element  of  diabolical  retribution. 
The  severity  of  the  penalty  was  in  an  inverse 
ratio  to  the  splendor  and  ecstacy  of  her  triumph. 

It  was  nearly  three  o'clock,  A.  M.,  when  Hop- 
son  bundled  her  out  of  the  coach  and  literally 
carried  her  upstairs  to  her  room. 

Howard  made  special  inquiry  about  her  of  Mr. 
Kirkvvood  when  he  arrived  at  the  office,  some- 
what later  than  usual. 

"Very  poorly,  very  poorly  indeed,"  was  the 
response. 

"  How  does  she  look  ?  " 

"  Oh,  I  haven't  seen  her,  but  its  safe  to  say 
that  she's  in  a  very  wretched  state." 

"  I  hope  she  met  with  no  mishap  in  getting 
home,"  continued  Howard,  with  laudable  con- 
cern. 

"  Getting  home  from  where  ?  "  asked  Kirkwood, 
looking  up  quickly. 


240  A   SOUTHERN   HERITAGE. 

"  Why  from  the  Acadamy  ball,"  answered 
Howard  somewhat  impatiently. 

"  By  the  luck  of  Jonah !  "  exclaimed  Mr.  Kirk- 
wood,  starting  up  as  if  an  electric  current  of  about 
five  hundred  ohms  had  been  turned  into  his  sys- 
tem. "  You  don't  mean  to  say  that  she  went  to 
that  reception  ?" 

"  To  be  sure  she  did." 

"  What — through  that  blasted  weather,  with 
her  neuralgia,  and  debility,  and —  Mr.  Kirk- 
wood  refrained  (perhaps  prudently)  from  further 
extending  the  catalogue  of  his  interesting  con- 
sort's ailments. 

"  She  went — that's  certain,"  declared  Estill. 
"  Danced  with  Alexis — and  all  that  !  " 

"  Tst,  tst,  tst,"  clucked  Mr.  Kirkwood  in  aston- 
ishment ;  and  then  he  sat  down  again.  "  She 
seldom  surprises  me — but  that's  about  the  worst 
march  she  has  stolen  on  me  yet !  It's  just  such 
damned  reckless  undertakings  as  this,  that's 
going  to  provide  an  imposing  and  popular  funeral 
at  my  house  one  of  these  bleak  days  ! — Yes,  my 
boy,  she's  decidedly  wretched  this  morning,  if 
that's  what  you  want  to  know." 

Estill  discovered,  by  a  few  more  carefully 
placed  questions,  that  Kirkwood  had  gone  out  to 
his  club  early  the  evening  before — not  finding 
much  to  entertain  him  at  home — and,  having 
become  engaged  in  a  little  game  of  some  kind 
with  a  few  old  cronies  who  never  went  to  balls, 


A   REVELATION   AND   A   RESULT.  24! 

had  not  returned  till  some  sma'  hour  ayont  the 
twal'.  Hence  his  ignorance. 

Blessed  is  domestic  felicity ! 

Olive  was  telegraphed  for,  and  came  down 
from  Boston  on  the  next  train.  In  the  after- 
noon, Estill  met  Claycourt  on  lower  Broadway. 

"  Have  you  been  to  inquire  about  your  Aunt 
to-day,"  asked  Howard. 

"  Yes — I  have  just  come  from  her." 

"  How  is  she  ?" 

"  Oh,  lord,  old  chap — she's  sick  this  time ! 
Perfectly  disorganized  and  helpless !  If  it  wasn't 
for  having  been  queered  about  it  so  often,  I'd 
feel  really  alarmed.  Upon  my  soul,  I  would." 

"  What  do  you  think  we  had  better  do  about 
it?" 

"  What  can  we  do,  old  chap,  but  piously  say 
our  little  prayers,  and  drink  to  her  better  health." 

"  No — I  haven't  much  faith  in  either,"  answered 
Estill.  "  It  seems  to  me  that  we  should  try  to 
exert  our  influence  to  a  better  advantage  than  we 
have.  Now,  didn't  you  realize  that  it  was  a  terribly 
imprudent  thing  to  take  her  out  last  night?" 

"  Well,  it  did  seem  a  trifle  indiscreet,  as  it  were, 
but  she  sent  for  me — and  I  was  elected.  I'll 
admit  that  I'm  easily  influenced,  but  it  would  take 
a  man  of  iron  to  stand  out  against  my  aunt  when 
she  says,  yes." 

"  I'm  not  so  sure  about  that.  She  gave  me  a 
hard  turn  yesterday,  and  I  didn't  weaken." 


242  A   SOUTHERN   HERITAGE. 

"  Oh,  she  did,  eh — what  about  ?" 

"  I  say,  Claycourt,  haven't  you  known  that  she 
used  morphine  ?" 

"  Well — yes,  to  some  extent,"  replied  Claycourt 
indifferently.  "  But  I  don't  think  there's  any 
danger  of  that  amounting  to  anything." 

"  It  is  amounting  to  something,  Claycourt. 
Hasn't  she  sent  for  you  during  the  past  few  days 
for  any  purpose?" 

"  Not  till  last  night — for  the  ball— but  then  I've 
been  out  of  town  for  a  week.  Ayresboro — you 
know—" 

"  That  accounts  for  it,  of  course.  Well,  the 
fact  is,  the  habit  has  been  growing  upon  her,  and 
Kirkwood  and  the  doctor  started  in  to  break  it 
up.  Yesterday  she  sent  for  me  and  tried  to  coax 
me  into  getting  her  a  supply — which,  of  course,  I 
didn't.  But  she  got  it  some  way — she  was  braced 
up  on  it  last  night,  or  she  never  could  have  got 
out." 

"  You  don't  say  it !"  exclaimed  Floyd. 

"  Either  that  or  something  equally  mysterious. 
And  what  I  started  to  say  is,  that  we  ought  to  do 
something  toward  discouraging  it.  She  may  not 
be  so  far  along  as  to  need  any  special  treatment, 
but  •  she  must  be  made  to  realize  her  danger. 
You  know  your  uncle  is  rather  indifferent,  and  I 
fear  does  not  proceed  with  her  just  right.  Any- 
way, something  ought  to  be  done.  Confidentially 
— the  prospect  of  a  confirmed  invalid  for  a 


A   REVELATION   AND   A   RESULT.  243 

mother-in-law  is  bad  enough,  but  one  with  the 
morphine  habit  is  something  I  am  going  to 
obviate,  if  possible." 

"  You'll  succeed  if  you  try,"  said  Floyd,  en- 
couragingly. 

"And  I  want  your  co-operation,"  continued 
Howard.  "  I  find  that  it  won't  do  to  be  too 
diffident.  I  believe  that  certain  reforms  in  Mr. 
Kirkwood's  family  would  be  advantageous  every 
way,  and  if  I  become  a  member  I'm  going  to 
undertake  them." 

"Bravo! — that's  worthy  of  a  Gracchus,"  ex- 
claimed Claycourt,  "  and  it  shows  your  great 
sense  in  trying  it  beforehand,  you  know." 

Howard  called  promptly  at  the  house  that 
evening,  and  Olive  and  he  had  hardly  been  long 
enough  together  to  renew  their  acquaintance  fully, 
it  seemed,  when  he  was  informed  that  Mrs.  Kirk- 
wood  requested  to  see  him. 

He  went  to  the  little  boudoir.  Mrs.  Kirkwood 
had  managed  to  leave  her  bed,  but  her  appearance 
was  indeed  pitiable,  and  doubly  so  to  one  who 
had  seen  her  in  the  full  blaze  of  glory  the  night 
before. 

"  My  dear  Howard,"  she  began,  "I  forgive  you, 
if  you  were  unkind  to  me  yesterday." 

"  Well,  now,  that's  very  generous  of  you," 
replied  Howard,  smiling  at  the  nature  of  her 
magnanimity. 

"  Yes — I  knew  you  would  be  glad  to  acknowl- 


244  A   SOUTHERN    HERITAGE. 

edge  it,  but — oh,  I  am  so  wretched  to-day ! 
Isn't  it  the  strangest  thing  imaginable  that  I 
should  suffer  these  dreadful  relapses  so  frequently? 
I  really  thought  I  should  die !" 

"  I  think  I  am  able  tp  account  for  some  of  them 
very  easily,  my  dear  madam.  Don't  you  think 
that  if  you  had  not  gone  out  last  night,  and  had 
been  taking  proper  precautions  every  way,  that 
you  would  be  much  better?"  Howard  sat  down 
near  her  while  he  spoke,  and  there  was  something 
earnest  and  sympathetic  in  his  voice. 

"  But  one  cannot  stay  cooped  up  forever, — it's 
as  bad  as  being  in  a  tomb !  Oh,  don't  let  us 
quarrel  about  that — it  isn't  what  I  called  you  for. 
-I  have  known  something  for  a  long  time  that  I 
should  have  told  you,  but  hardly  dared  to." 

Howard  trembled  at  the  sound  of  her  words. 
After  all,  there  was  something  mysterious  in  con- 
cealment. 

"  Yes.  I  have  wanted  to  tell  you,  but  have  been 
restrained.  To-day,  when  I  felt  that  I  might  die 
any  moment,  there  was  something  that  told  me  I 
had  been  very  wicked  and  selfish,  and  I  felt  more 
keenly  than  before,  that  it  was  awfully  wrong  for 
us  to  keep  this  secret  from  you  any  longer.  To 
be  sure,  we  reasoned  that  the  way  things  were 
turning  out,  it  would  right  itself  sometime — but 
that  is  not  the  right  way." 

Mrs.  Kirkwood  paused,  and  sighed  distress- 
fully. 


A   REVELATION   AND   A   RESULT.  24$ 

"  Well?"  said  Howard,  interrogatively,  as  much 
as  to  remark  that  he  was  listening  attentively  for 
the  rest  of  it. 

"  I  have  sent  for  Mr.  Kirkwood,"  she  replied, 
'•  and  don't  want  to  tell  you  till  he  comes."  At 
that  moment  Mr.  Kirkwood  entered. 

"  I  hope  you  are  not  worse,  my  dear,"  he  said 
conventionally, 

"  Watson,  you  see  I  have  Howard  here,"  she 
began,  ignoring  his  fond  greeting.  "  I  sent  for 
him  because  we  had  something  to  tell  him.  Now 
you  know  we  have,  Watson  !" 

"  Really,  I  wasn't  aware  of  it,  my  dear,"  replied 
Watson,  with  a  serious  air. 

"  You  know  we  have,"  snapped  Mrs.  Kirkwood, 
"  and  I  am  not  going  to  have  it  deferred  an  hour 
longer !  Supposing  I  should  die  here — as  I'm 
liable  to  any  time — would  he  ever  hear  of  it  from 
you?  No,  Watson,  it's  not  likely.  Come,  now, 
be  a  straightforward  man  and  acknowledge  your 
wrong,  and  I  will  acknowledge  my  share  in  it." 

"  I  fear  you  are  quite  too  much  excited  to-night, 
my  dear,  for  us  to  trouble  you  further.  I  think 
Estill  and  I  had  better  retire — 

"  Not  till  you  have  done  as  I  wish !  And  if 
you  refuse  to  do  it,  I  will  tell  him  myself!" 

"You  are  delirious,  my  angel ;  come,  Estill — " 

"Watson  Kirkwood,  stay  where  you  are,  and 
do  not  act  like  a  coward  !"  she  commanded,  with 
a  spirit  that  fairly  startled  Howard. 


246  A   SOUTHERN   HERITAGE. 

"  I  do  not  claim  that  I  have  been  more  right- 
eous than  you,  but  I  am  willing  to  acknowledge 
my  wrong.  Do  you  refuse  to  tell  him  ?  Very 
well — Howard  Estill,  this  is  the  man,  the  father 
of  the  girl  you  are  going  to  wed,  who  robbed  you 
of  your  inheritance  /" 

Howard  arose,  and  grasped  a  chair,  as  if  to 
steady  himself.  There  was  a  moment's  silence. 

"  Now  I  have  cleared  my  conscience,"  exclaimed 
Mrs.  Kirkwood,  sinking  back  upon  her  sofa,  as  if 
her  divulgence  of  the  fact  had  righted  the  whole 
wrong. 

"  I  can't  understand  what  you  mean,  my  dear," 
said  Mr.  Kirkwood  suavely ;  "evidently  you  are 
feeling  the  effects  of  your  stimulants,  or  have 
been  dreaming." 

"  Howard,  you  are  able  to  judge  whether  I 
have  my  senses  or  not — pray,  do  not  insult  me  as 
my  husband  does." 

"Oh,  my  angel,  please  don't  take  it  in  that 
spirit,"  exclaimed  Kirkwood,  apologetically.  "  I 
did  not  mean — " 

"  You  meant  to  discredit  my  word !  Don't 
attempt  it  again,  if  you  have  proper  regard  for 
me  !  I  repeat  it,  Howard — we  are  the  ones  who 
have  had  your  estate  all  these  years.  True,  we 
believed  at  one  time  that  you  were  all  dead.  I 
was  really  glad  that  we  came  together,  for  now  it 
will  all  be  yours  some  day." 

"  Madam,  I  thank  you  fervently  for  this  act  of 


A   REVELATION   AND   A   RESULT.  247 

justice,"  said  Howard.  "  I  do  not  doubt  for  a 
moment  that  you  told  the  truth."  He  took  both 
of  Mrs.  Kirkwood's  hands,  she  pulled  him  towards 
her  and  kissed  him,  and  in  a  moment  was  in  a 
paroxysm  of  hysteria. 

"Really,  my  boy,  this  will  hardly  do,"  said  Mr. 
Kirkwood.  "  I  think  we  should  leave  her  at 
once.  There,  my  dear,  you  have  done  your  duty 
— we  will  talk  about  it  further  some  other  time." 

Howard  said  "good-night"  to  Mrs.  Kirkwood 
gently,  and  the  two  men  left  the  room  together. 
Howard  went  direct  with  Mr.  Kirkwood  into  his 
library. 

"  It's  really  amazing,"  remarked  Kirkwood,  in 
a  tone  of  relief,  at  the  same  time  taking  out-  a 
cigar,  "  really  amazing  what  extravagant  vagaries 
people  are  capable  of  who  indulge  in  morphine. 
Now,  there's  Mrs.  Kirkwood — a  person  of  really 
very  moderate  imagination  in  her  normal  condi- 
tion. And  yet,  because  she  had  heard  us  discuss 
your  loss,  she  takes  it  up  and  fancies  that  we  are 
to  blame." 

"  She  fancies  it,  you  say?"  queried  Howard. 

"  Or  dreamed  it,"  continued  Kirkwood,  per- 
fectly calm,  and  speaking  in  his  customary  self- 
confident  manner.  "  She  has  had  such  spells  for 
some  time — usually  worse  after  some  extraordi- 
nary excitement." 

"  Are  you  pretending  to  talk  seriously,  Mr. 
Kirkwood  ?" 


248  A   SOUTHERN   HERITAGE. 

"  Pretending  !  I  am  talking  seriously."  And 
Mr.  Kirkvvood  simulated  a  little  surprise  at  Estill's 
quiet  question. 

"  Kirkvvood,  your  audacity  amazes  me  !"  said 
Howard.  "  You  are  the  craftiest  man  in  your 
methods,  and  possess  the  greatest  stock  of  un- 
alloyed brass  of  any  man  I  ever  knew  !  Your  nerve 
and  cunning  compel  my  admiration."  Howard 
spoke  deliberately,  as  if  he  were  telling  Mr.  Kirk- 
wood  about  some  other  remarkable  character. 

"  Your  compliments  appear  somewhat  ambig- 
uous," replied  the  recipient  of  them.  "Anyone 
could  readily  see  through  my  wife's  odd  whims 
when  they  become  a  little  accustomed  to  them. 
Ah,  will  you  have  a  glai>s  of  brandy  with  me, — I 
am  not  feeling  exactly  right  through  here  to- 
night." And  he  put  his  left  hand  upon  his 
side. 

"  No,  Kirkwood — stop  this  dissembling — it  dis- 
gusts me  !  You  know  very  well  that  your  wife 
told  the  truth.  Now  don't  try  any  longer  to 
palaver  or  cajole  me  into  believing  anything  else ! 
I  am  convinced  that  you  are  the  man  who 
defrauded  me  and  my  sister,  and  I  shall  take 
steps  at  once  to  prove  it,  and  recover  !" 

Mr.  Kirkwood  grew  more  restless,  and  Howard 
had  only  once  before  seen  him  as  pale  as  he 
turned  now. 

"  It  is  your  privilege  to  try,"  he  half  gasped, 
as  he  tossed  off  a  glass  of  brandy. 


A   REVELATION   AND   A    RESULT.  249 

"  It  is  not  only  my  privilege,  but  my  duty,  to 
recover  my  own.  Kirkwood,  I  am  pained,  sick- 
ened by  this  discovery  !  It  weakens  my  faith  in 
humanity !  How  any  man  can  sleep  o'nights 
with  such  a  load  of  fraud  and  dishonesty  in  his 
heart,  is  past  my  comprehension  !" 

"  Come,  come,  Estiil,"  said  Kirkwood,  con- 
vinced at  last,  that  further  attempt  at  evasion 
was  futile,  "  don't  be  distressed.  Consider  the 
circumstances,  and  present  conditions,  and  it  will 
not  appear  so  flagrant." 

"  There  is  no  extenuation  of  such  a  crime !" 

"  Oh,  my  boy,  don't  be  so  impetuous.  It  can- 
not possibly  be  placed  under  the  heading  of 
crime.  The  law  would  not  class  it  as  such.  It 
would  only  be  termed  a  breach  of  trust  at  the 
most." 

"  The  name  matters  nothing — you  have  robbed 
me,"  burst  out  Estiil  impatiently.  "  Yes,  robbed 
me — and  now  stoop  to  cavil  about  names  for  it ! 
I  find  that  you  are  every  inch  the  swindler  I  sus- 
pected you  of  being  !" 

Kirkwood  dropped  his  head,  more  crestfallen 
and  subdued  than  any  man  had  ever  seen  him 
before. 

"  My  dear  boy,"  he  began  mildly,  "  your  accusa- 
tions maybe  just.  I  have  wronged  you  deeply — I 
admit  it.  All  that  I  can  do  now  is  to  reimburse 
you — which  I  will  do  fully.  Heaven  judge  me, 


250  A   SOUTHERN    HERITAGE. 

it  is  what   I   have  intended  to  do  ever  since  you 
came  in  my  way." 

"  And  if  I  had  not  been  so  fortunate — " 

"  There,  don't  speak  of  that,  my  boy — let  it 
pass.  You  shall  have  every  dollar,  and  more!  I 
promised  your  father — to  return  fifty  thousand 
dollars — he  placed  in  my  keeping,  and  it  shall 
be  yours.  We  were  business  acquaintances — 
your  father  and  I.  I  took  his  money  to  Canada 
during  the  war.  My  dear  boy,  I  am  not  feeling 
sound — let  me  explain  the  rest  of  it  to-morrow." 

Mr.  Kirk  wood  was  visibly  distressed.  He 
walked  unsteadily  to  his  room, — and  Howard, 
still  trembling  with  conflicting  emotions,  returned 
to  Olive. 

She  had  been  waiting  for  him  anxiously,  half 
divining  that  something  unpleasant  was  occurring. 

"  What  kept  you  so  long,  dear,"  she  asked 
immediately. 

•'  Oh,  my  innocent  darling,  I  don't  know  how 
to  tell  you,"  he  replied.  "  Indeed,  so  much  has 
been  transpiring  during  the  last  week,  that  I  am 
dumbfounded.  There,  I  don't  want  to  talk  about 
it  any  more  to-night — I  am  nervous  and  weary, 
now.  It's  all  about  business,  you  know.  I'll  tell 
you  some  other  time.  There,  sweetheart,  put 
your  hand  upon  my  temples — so.  Heaven  bless 
you — " 

At  this  moment  an  ominous  commotion  was 
heard  through  the  corridor.  Both  sprang  up  and 


A   REVELATION   AND   A   RESULT.  251 

rushed  towards  the  door.  They  heard  a  stifled 
groan — an  exclamation  of  horror  from  the  foot- 
man, a  woman's  scream,  and  Mrs.  Kirkwood  flew 
past  them !  They  hurried  to  Mr.  Kirkwood's 
room,  and  found  him  fallen  on  the  floor.  His 
face  was  livid.  Howard  lifted  him  to  a  couch 
near  by.  His  head  fell  back,  a  single  groan 
escaped  his  lips — and  he  was  dead  ! 

If  Watson  Kirkwood  explained  the  rest,  or  any 
part,  of  his  irregular  transaction  on  the  morrow, 
it  was  before  the  Supreme  Judge  of  all  acts  and 
motives — and  we  may  reverently  hope  that  He 
treated  the  case  leniently. 

Consternation  and  grief  ruled  with  ruthless 
sceptres  that  night  in  the  house  of  the  dead  man. 
Mrs.  Kirkwood  for  an  hour  seemed  to  forget  her 
physical  weakness.  Remorse  added  to  her  sor- 
row, and  for  awhile  she  was  well-nigh  frantic. 
Poor  Olive,  if  less  excitable,  was  even  more  piti- 
able in  her  distress. 

"  Oh,  Howard,  Howard — bring  him  back — 
don't  let  him  die !"  sobbed  the  poor  girl,  long 
after  life  was  no  more. 

"  Oh,  poor  papa — darling  papa — you  were 
always  so  good  to  me,  so  kind  !  I  did  not  love 
him  enough,  Howard  ;  he  never  refused  me  any- 
thing in  his  life  !" 

All  the  other  tributes  which  those  who  knew 
Watson  Kirkwood  sincerely  or  charitably  be- 


252  A  SOUTHERN  HERITAGE. 

stowed  upon  his  memory  were  not  equal  to 
this. 

Howard  Estill  stood  by  the  side  of  the  lifeless 
form,  and  solemnly  gazed  upon  the  pallid  counte- 
nance, while  the  grief  around  him  touched  him 
to  tears. 

"  He  wronged  me — but  I  forgive  him,"  was  his 
only  utterance. 

Within  a  few  minutes  the  sad  news  was  out, 
and  a  number  of  friends  arrived.  A  little  later 
Howard  met  Floyd  Claycourt  as  the  latter  entered 
the  house. 

"  What's  the  trouble  here,  old  chap — is  some- 
thing the  matter?"  asked  Claycourt,  who  had 
accidentally  dropped  in. 

"  My  dear  Claycourt,  haven't  you  heard  ? — it  is 
death,"  answered  Estill. 

"  Is  it  possible  !"  exclaimed  Claycourt  dolefully. 
Then  it  has  come  at  last !  Oh,  my  poor,  dear 
aunt — may  Heaven  keep  your  soul !" 

"  Hush,  Floyd — you  are  wrong,"  interrupted 
Estill  in  a  thick  voice,  "  your  aunt  still  lives— it  is 
Mr.  Kirkwood  who  is  dead  !" 

And  Floyd  Claycourt  dropped  into  a  seat  as  if 
he  had  been  shot. 


AN  ERA  OF  REFORM,  AND  A  TURN  OF  LUCK.   253 


CHAPTER  XIV. 

AN  ERA  OF  REFORM,  AND  A  TURN  OF  LUCK. 

ALL  the  next  day,  as  people  passing  by  saw  the 
black  folds  of  crepe  upon  the  door  of  the  Kirk- 
wood  dwelling,  they  sighed  and  said — poor  woman, 
she  is  really  dead  at  last ! 

The  gossipy  club  man  saw  it,  and  lightly 
meditated  upon  the  evanescent  nature  of  earthly 
glory.  He  promptly  mentioned  Mrs.  Kirkwood's 
lamented  decease  to  his  cronies  at  luncheon,  and 
added  a  chaffy  sort  of  tribute  to  her  interesting 
qualities. 

"  She  was  a  stunning  woman  in  her  day,  by 
Jove,"  he  drawled,  "  and  kept  her  looks  pretty 
well  to  the  finish — but  guess  that  last  dash  with 
Alexis  was  too  much  for  her  shattered  constitu- 
tion." 

Most  women  said  it  was  "  no  wonder,"  and 
most  men  expressed  some  more  generous  word 
of  sympathy.  But  later  on,  all  agreed  that  Mrs. 
Kirkwood  made  an  exceedingly  attractive  widow, 
and  that  she  dressed  the  character  in  exquisite 
taste. 

An  administrator  was  appointed  for  Mr.  Kirk- 
wood's  estate,  who,  together  with  his  attorney 


254  A   SOUTHERN    HERITAGE. 

and  Estill,  began  an  investigation  into  its  affairs. 
The  only  will  that  turned  up  had  been  made  sev 
eral  years  before,  and  bequeathed  all  his  worldly 
goods  to  Mrs.  Kirkwood. 

The  investigation  had  not  proceeded  very  far 
before  Howard  began  to  feel  alarmed.  Obliga- 
tions that  he  had  never  heard  of  began  to  appear, 
and  creditors  of  defunct  concerns  that  Kirkwood 
had  at  different  times  been  connected  with,  be- 
came clamorous  after  his  death.  Large  blocks  of 
valuable  securities  were  found  to  be  hypothecated, 
while  numerous  items  that  paraded  imposingly 
upon  the  ledger  in  the  guise  of  assets  shrunk  to 
worthless  scraps  (except  as  souvenirs  of  the  late 
financier's  genius)  when  their  true  character  was 
exposed.  There  was  one  note  for  a  large  amount 
made  payable  to  Mr.  Kirkwood,  indorsed  by  Mr. 
Kirkwood,  and  which  bore  the  bold  but  orna- 
mental signature  of  Mr.  Kirkwood's  wife.  That 
was  capital — in  one  sense,  at  least. 

The  title  to  the  homestead  stood  in  Mrs.  Kirk- 
wood's  name ;  it  was  a  valuable  property — mort- 
gaged for  all  it  would  endure. 

The  further  they  got,  the  worse  it  grew — it  was 
a  most  discouraging  case  of  shreds  and  patches. 

"  His  methods  would  be  excellent  models  for 
ambitious  young  men  to  study,  who  contemplate 
going  west  to  grow  up  with  the  budding  country," 
remarked  the  administrator  grimly. 

"  Excellent    sir,"    replied    the    attorney,    in    a 


AN  ERA  OF  REFORM,  AND  A  TURN  OF  LUCK.    255 

purely  business  way,  "  the  opportunity  has  not 
been  neglected.  At  least  a  dozen  have  graduated 
from  this  establishment — we'll  hear  from  them  a 
few  years  later." 

"  But  where  did  he  get  his  $30,000  a  year 
to  live  on,"  exclaimed  Estill,  who  had  grown 
weary  and  thrown  up  his  hands. 

"  From  the  generous  contributions  of  the  con- 
fiding public,"  answered  the  attorney. 

That  seemed  to  be  about  all  there  was  left  to 
say.  So  Mr.  Estill  went  home  and  meditated. 
Few  young  men  have  ever  found  and  lost  a  for- 
tune  in  shorter  time  than  he  had.  It  seemed  to 
be  gone  this  time,  for  sure.  Yet  the  loss  of  it 
did  not  appear  so  important,  after  all,  in  the  com- 
prehensive sweep  of  the  general  chaos.  While 
these  things  were  revolving  in  his  mind,  he  was 
honored  with  a  call  from  Mr.  Murchison. 

"  Since  the  decease  of  Mr.  Kirkwood,  I  have 
concluded  to  lay  before  you  the  facts  concerning 
your  estate,  as  I  have  discovered  them,  and  trust 
to  your  equitable  nature,"  said  Murchison  pom- 
pously. "  I  am  able  to  show  you  conclusively 
that  he  was  the  man  who  became  possessed  of  it, 
and  that  he  conciliated  your  lawyer,  Sticey,  into 
silence.  Sticey  finally  was  sent  to  prison — " 

"  And  you  in  turn  accepted  Mr.  Kirkwood's 
hush-money,"  exclaimed  Estill,  rudely  interrupt- 
ing him. 

Perhaps  Mr.  Murchison  was  unfortunate  in  the 


256  A   SOUTHERN   HERITAGE. 

time  he  had  chosen  to  visit  Mr.  Estill,  but  in  any 
case  that  young  gentleman  had  grown  so  dis- 
gusted with  the  tales  and  instances  of  fraud  and 
chicanery,  that  he  was  temporarily  out  of  patience  ; 
and  before  the  disreputable  old  Insect  of  a  lawyer 
could  declare  his  own  spotless  integrity,  he  found 
himself  grasped  by  a  hand  like  a  vise,  which  sud- 
denly imparted  a  turbulent,  whirling  motion  to  his 
anatomy — a  sort  of  spinning,  as  it  were,  which 
lasted  with  infinite  variety  down  a  flight  of  nicely 
carpeted  stairs  ;  and  which  so  charged  him  with 
a  contempt  for  ingratitude  that  he  immediately 
washed  his  hands  of  the  Estill  case,  and  never 
turned  one  of  them  over  again  in  its  behalf. 

It  took  a  couple  of  months  for  those  engaged 
in  the  business  to  find  out  just  how  bad  things 
were,  and  at  the  end  of  that  time  they  returned  a 
verdict,  that  they  couldn't  possibly  be  worse. 

As  might  have  been  expected,  Estill  made  no 
attempt  to  reserve  anything.  Mrs.  Kirkwood 
stood  it  pretty  bravely  till  it  came  down  to  the 
brownstone  mansion,  and  then  she  complained 
and  wept.  But  it  went.  In  fact,  it  was  impos- 
sible for  her  to  comprehend  it  at  all — the  way 
everything  went!  Howard  even  turned  over  his 
stock  in  the  South  Carolina  cotton-seed  oil  mill, 
without  even  mentioning  what  a  splendid  chance 
it  once  had  of  being  cultivated  up  to  the  forty  or 
fifty  premium. 

A  great  many  harsh  things  were  said,  most  of 


AN  ERA  OF  REFORM,  AND  A  TURN  OF  LUCK.  257 

which,  it  must  be  admitted,  were  sufficiently  pro- 
voked by  the  facts  as  they  came  to  light,  but  they 
were  none  the  less  galling  and  humiliating  to  the 
impoverished  family  for  all  that.  Mrs.  Kirkwood 
had  shone  too  radiantly  not  to  have  enemies — it 
was  surprising  now,  the  number  there  appeared 
to  be  in  their  ranks,  active  or  indifferent.  They 
said  it  was  a  positive  disgrace  to  respectability — 
the  false  colors  she  had  been  sailing  under  all 
these  years.  This  was  the  feminine  attitude.  As 
a  rule,  the  men  remarked  that  it  was  too  bad  for 
a  woman  of  her  style  and  spirit. 

Howard  was  without  place  or  prospects,  and 
Olive,  once  an  envied  heiress,  was  now  penniless. 
So  they  got  married.  The  way  things  had  been 
going,  what  was  the  use  to  discuss  prudence? 

There  was  not  the  least  element  of  ostentation 
about  it,  however.  Floyd  Claycourt  came  for- 
ward. He  had  a  very  comfortable  fortune — why 
it  hadn't  someway  been  engulfed  in  the  financial 
maelstrom  which  his  distinguished  uncle  had  so 
successfully  operated,  was  a  living  problem,  and 
won  Floyd  the  credit  for  being  enough-sight 
sharper  than  he  appeared. 

But,  anyway,  he  came  forward,  and  chattered 
encouragingly,  while  assisting  Howard  to  take  a 
small  house  much  further  up-town.  Into  this 
they  moved,  from  the  big  house  on  the  avenue. 
And  right  in  the  nick  of  time,  a  snug  position 


258  A   SOUTHERN   HERITAGE. 

opened  for  Howard  in  a  large  real-estate  broker's 
office. 

What  a  revolution  it  all  was  to  Mrs.  Kirkwood  ! 
It  must  be  confessed  that  her  grief  for  the  loss  of 
her  husband,  which  was  really  violent  right  at 
the  first,  very  soon  wore  away.  Probably  the 
excitement  of  other  affairs,  and  anxiety  for  her 
future  welfare  helped  divert  her  mind  from  it. 
At  any  rate,  she  did  not  pine  away  to  deeper 
misery. 

When  Howard  Estill  came  resolutely  upon  the 
scene,  after  Mr.  Kirkwood's  death,  he  devoted 
special  attention  to  the  widow.  He  showed  dip- 
lomatic skill  in  his  treatment  of  her,  that  few 
were  able  fully  to  appreciate.  He  did  not  forfeit 
her  esteem  or  confidence  by  a  single  aft;  but  all 
the  time  gradually  ingratiated  himself  into  a 
complete  mastery  over  her. 

One  great  circumstance  in  his  favor  was  her 
recent  widowhood,  which  of  course  withdrew  her 
entirely  from  the  dissipations  of  a  society  life. 
There  was  no  more  getting  out  of  a  sick-bed, 
priming  with  stimulants,  and  scurrying  off  to  the 
opera,  or  to  dance  with  grand  dukes.  Con- 
sequently, there  were  fewer  and  far  less  violent 
relapses. 

Then  Howard  began  with  the  doctors.  There 
had  been  a  couple  on  her  pay-roll  regularly,  who 
came  alternately,  felt  her  pulse,  prescribed  what 
she  wanted,  and  presented  exorbitant  bills.  Both 


AN  ERA  OF  REFORM,  AND  A  TURN  OF  LUCK.   259 

were  promptly  discharged.  Mrs.  Kirkvvood  de- 
clared she  should  die,  but  Howard  amiably 
insisted  upon  having  his  way  about  it.  With  the 
doctors  went  the  thousand  and  one  concoctions, 
the  effects  of  whose  diverse  and  conflicting  prop- 
erties might  well  have  insured  a  permanent  victim 
to  pharmacy. 

By  the  time  they  moved  into  the  small  house, 
Mrs.  Kirkwood  was  feeling  better — but  still 
needed  a  stimulant.  There  was  the  great  danger 
that  Howard  contemplated,  but  he  did  not 
despair.  All  the  old  servants  were  discharged. 
When  it  came  to  Hopson — there  was  the  affect- 
ing struggle.  But  Hopson  had  to  go.  It  was 
plain  that  the  work  of  thorough  reform  could  not 
go  on  l^a  successful  end  with  her  in  the  house. 
The  good  creature  was  very  much  distressed  at 
parting  from  her  "  dear  child,"  whose  care  had 
been  such  a  burden  to  her  for  so  many  years  ; 
and  the  thought  of  Mrs.  Kirkwood  getting  along 
without  either  maid  or  nurse,  when  it  had  been 
previously  quite  as  much  as  she  could  accomplish 
with  both,  seemed  altogether  preposterous. 

At  first  it  appeared  equally  so  to  Mrs.  Kirk- 
wood. What,  she  and  Olive  keep  house  with 
only  one  servant  in  the  whole  establishment!! 
The  idea  was  so  overpowering  that  she  expressed 
a  sorrow  that  she  had  not  passed  away  in  one  of 
her  terrible  relapses,  before  the  disgrace  of  such 
poverty  fell  upon  her. 


260  A   SOUTHERN   HERITAGE. 

But  Howard  very  soon  convinced  her  by  the 
simplest  kind  of  arithmetical  calculations  that  it 
was  the  very  best  they  could  afford,  and  that 
while  it  was  humiliating  to  his  own  proud  spirit, 
he  was  going  to  meet  the  emergency  like  a  sol- 
dier, and  hope  for  better  things  in  the  future. 
Olive  was  quite  of  his  disposition,  and  instead  of 
repining  at  their  downfall,  took  hold  with  a  good- 
will to  make  their  little  home  pretty  and  cheer- 
ful. Her  enthusiasm  had  its  effect  upon  her 
mamma. 

Most  human  natures  require  the  discipline  of 
necessity  to  bring  out  the  best  there  is  in  them. 
Legions  of  namby-pamby  creatures  go  through 
life  in  a  dawdling  or  whining  manner,  never  rising 
above  helpless  inanity,  who  no  douhffj'  in  the 
straits  of  emergency,  would  develop  capable,  or 
even  admirable  qualities.  Mrs.  Kirkwood  had 
never  been  suspected  of  being  anything  but  a 
fashionable  sort  of  doll.  She  would  have  shud- 
dered at  the  thought  of  having  to  dress  herself 
unassisted.  That  was  the  Mrs.  Kirkwood  of  the 
palmy  days  of  Watson  Kirkwood's  monetary 
maelstrom. 

Within  a  year  of  the  time  she  became  a  mother- 
in-law,  she  was  very  much  another  person. 

Howard  Estill's  diplomacy  worked  almost  like 
magic.  He  not  only  put  a  strict  embargo  upon 
Mrs.  Kirkwood's  favorite  drug,  but  soon  con- 
vinced her  that  the  use  of  morphine  was  quite  as 


AN  ERA  OF  REFORM,  AND  A  TURN  OF  LUCK.    261 

disreputable  as  injurious.  Results  soon  began  to 
corroborate  his  teachings,  for  she  suffered  less 
from  "nervous  prostration,"  and  had  fewer  agon- 
izing pains  to  complain  of.  Her  temper  improved 
and  sweetened — she  was  less  whimsical  and 
tyrannical.  She  herself  was  surprised  to  find  how 
wonderfully  beneficial  her  new  mode  of  life  was. 
She  did  not  dread  the  task  of  going  up  or  down 
stairs  as  of  old.  Her  eyes  were  brighter,  her 
arms  and  neck  were  plumper,  her  skin  smoother, 
her  complexion  clearer.  Those  of  her  old  ac- 
quaintances who  saw  her,  remarked  that  she  had 
not  been  as  beautiful  for  ten  years,  and  inquired 
who  her  doctor  was  now  ?  No  wonder  at  all  that 
Mrs.  Kirkwood  was  proud  of  her  son-in-law,  and 
respected  his  wisdom  ! 

When  they  got  snugly  settled  in  their  new 
home,  Howard  brought  Florence  to  live  with 
them.  This  was  a  move  that  he  contemplated 
with  some  apprehension,  for  the  poor  girl  needed 
much  tender  care,  and  there  was  already  a  great 
deal  of  waiting  upon  one  another.  If  Mrs.  Kirk- 
wood  should  rebel,  or  take  a  dislike  to  the  gentle 
invalid,  it  would  make  things  very  unpleasant. 
There  would  be  something  extremely  disagreeable 
in  having  to  send  her  back  to  the  country  again, 
and  admit  that  his  mother-in-law  made  the  house 
too  small  for  her. 

But  he  took  occasion  to  talk  about  the  plan 
quite  a  good  deal,  incidentally,  and  gradually  got 


262  A   SOUTHERN   HERITAGE. 

Mrs.  Kirkwood  to  assisting  in  the  preparations, 
as  a  matter  of  course. 

So  Florence  came.  Olive  was  really  delighted 
to  have  her  with  them,  and  made  her  reception  a 
very  jolly  one.  The  truth  was,  Mrs.  Kirkwood 
conjectured  that  she  would  prove  a  good  deal  of  a 
bore ;  and  if  her  opinion  had  been  respectfully 
asked  at  the  first,  she  would  have  shaken  her 
pretty  head.  Not  so  much  because  she  feared 
the  additional  care  in  the  household,  but  she 
always  felt  a  keen  contempt  for  the  rawness  and 
awkwardness  of  country  people — and  of  course, 
she  didn't  suppose  Florence  could  be  anything 
but  an  uncultivated  country  girl.  But  she  saw 
the  necessity  of  making  the  best  of  it,  and  put  on 
a  pleasant,  patronizing  smile  with  which  to  greet 
her. 

Their  first  evening  together,  gave  her  much 
more  favorable  opinions.  Florence  was  naturally 
intelligent,  and  Howard  had  always  kept  her  well 
supplied  with  books ;  being  much  of  the  time  left 
to  that  resource  for  entertainment,  she  had  read 
a  great  deal,  and  her  store  of  miscellaneous 
knowledge  was  superior  to  that  of  most  girls  of 
her  age.  Besides,  she  had,  like  her  brother,  a 
considerable  gift  of  fluency. 

"  I  have  no  doubt  it  appeared  very  confusing 
to  you — the  noise  and  bustle  of  travel,  and  of  the 
city,"  remarked  Mrs.  Kirkwood,  in  her  most 
musical  tones. 


AN  LRA  OF  REFORM,  AND  A  TURN  OF  LUCK.    263 

"  Oh,  yes,  it  did,"  replied  Florence.  "  I  have 
so  often  wondered  what  a  really  great  city  was 
like — and  for  that  matter  I'm  wondering  still,  for 
I  have  only  caught  a  superficial  glimpse  of  it." 

"  And  you  really  have  never  seen  a  city  before 
— how  strange  ! '  ' 

"  You  know  I  have  scarcely  seen  the  world  at 
all.  I  was  very  small  when  I  was  taken  to  Ayres- 
boro,  and  too  ill  for  much  observation.  So  it  has 
always  seemed  to  me  as  if  I  could  not  be  very  far 
away  from  my  old  Southern  home.  You  know  I 
am  only  an  unsophisticated  little  Southern  girl/' 

That  was  already  a  good  point  gained  with 
Mrs.  Kirkvvood,  who  still  regarded  Southern 
people  as  superior  beings. 

"  And  Ayresboro  is  more  of  a  Southern  village 
than  a  Yankee  town,"  suggested  Howard. 

"  I  am  really  glad  to  hear  that  something  can 
be  said  in  its  favor,"  replied  Mrs.  Kirkwood, 
whose  memories  of  the  place  were  not  of  the 
brightest. 

"  Really,"  said  Florence  laughing,  "  I  never 
quite  got  over  my  childish  curiosity  about  the 
Yankees,  all  the  time  I  lived  at  Ayresboro.  You 
know,  during  the  siege  of  Vicksburg,  where  I 
lived,  we  used  to  be  told  awful  stories  about  them, 
and  we  little  ones  imagined  they  were  a  sort  of 
bogies.  I  know  I  was  somewhat  surprised,  when 
I  first  saw  them,  to  find  they  were  common-look- 
ing men. 


264  A    SOUTHERN    HERITAGE. 

"  Indeed,  I  shall  never  forget  that  first  time," 
she  continued.  "  During  the  siege  we  went  with 
some  kind  people  to  stay  in  a  cave  which  was 
made  in  the  side  of  a  hill.  There  were  a  good 
many  of  them  occupied  so,  for  they  said  the 
Yankee  shells  could  not  harm  us  there.  They 
were  made  comfortable,  but  it  was  so  strange  and 
quiet,  keeping  candles  burning  all  day! 

"  One  day,  after  General  Pendleton  had  sur- 
rendered, and  the  blue-coats  had  possession  of 
everything,  I  ventured  out  on  the  side-walk,  and 
saw  two  Yankees  coming  toward  me.  Every- 
body was  looking  at  them  curiously,  and  I 
imagined  they  must  be  unusually  ferocious.  One 
was  a  tall  man,  and  had  on  a  very  fine  uniform. 
The  other  was  rather  short  and  stout,  and  didn't 
wear  any  sword.  Both  had  short  whiskers — and, 
oh,  such  sharp  eyes ! 

"  Of  course  I  was  scared,  and  ran  back  into  the 
cave ;  and  what  did  they  do  but  come  right  in, 
too,  with  some  other  officers.  They  all  looked 
around  as  if  they  were  surprised  a't  the  place.  The 
tall  one  with  the  bright  uniform  talked  a  good 
deal,  but  the  shorter  one  nodded,  and  smoked, 
and  didn't  say  much.  But  when  he  saw  that  I 
was  crying  with  fright,  he  took  his  cigar  from  his 
mouth,  and  stooped  down,  and  patted  my  head. 

"  The  tall  one  looked  down  with  his  sharp  eyes, 
and  saiji — '  General,  you  seem  to  be  fond  of 
children.' 


AN  ERA  OF  REFORM,  AND  A  TURN  OF  LUCK.  265 

"'Yes,'. he  answered,  'I  have  a  little  girl  at 
home,  about  like  this  one.'  It  sounded  so  kindly 
that  I  stopped  crying,  and  when  the  tall  officer 
stooped  down  and  kissed  me  on  the  cheek,  my 
fear  took  wings. 

"When  they  turned  to  go,  people  whispered 
that  they  were  General  Grant,  and  General  Sher- 
man !  And  it  was  the  greatest  mystery  to  me, 
why,  if  they  were  so  gentle  and  kind,  they  could 
be  burning  our  houses,  and  killing  and  starving 
us  !  " 

Howard  turned  away  when  she  came  to  this, 
for  his  mother  had  perished  in  that  siege,  and  the 
illness  Florence  contracted  in  that  damp  cave  had 
made  her  an  invalid  for  life  ;  but  he  always  carried 
in  his  heart  a  feeling  of  gratitude  toward  the 
illustrious  soldiers  who  had  halted  to  pet  with  a 
word  and  a  kiss  his  frightened  and  unprotected 
little  sister. 

One  day,  not  long  after  Florence  came  to  live 
with  them,  Howard  entered  the  house  smiling 
and  exultant.  He  bore  pleasant  tidings. 

"  That  wilderness  of  ours  down  in  Alabama," 
he  said,  "is  turning  out — not  exactly  a  blooming 
paradise,  but  blooming  rich !  Bless  you,  no  end 
of  hematite  ore  in  it — solid  from  the  surface 
down  !  Queer  we  never  suspected  that !" 

"  What's  hematite — gold  ?''  asked  Olive  ;  and  as 
Howard  laughed,  the  other  two  guessed,  "silver." 

"  No,  no — iron  !  "  replied  Howard. 


266  A   SOUTHEKN    HERITAGE. 

"  Oh,"  they  answered  in  chorus,  very  much 
disappointed. 

"  Iron — millions  of  tons  of  it !  And  what  do 
you  think — those  audacious  smelters  down  there 
have  been  working  it  without  saying  even,  if  you 
please!  The  owner  didn't  happen  to  be  around, 
and  they  just  helped  themselves  !  If  this  isn't 
growing  to  be  the  worst  age  for  grabbing  !  There 
seems  to  be  a  lot  of  fellows  with  a  sort  of  swinish 
voracity,  who  are  trying  to  gobble  the  earth  ! — 
Pack  some  things  in  my  satchel,  Olive — I'm  going 
down  there  with  determination  and  two  lawyers, 
right  away !  Guess  when  we  begin  to  draw  a 
royalty  of  twenty-five  cents  a  ton  on  that  ore, 
with  a  few  thousand  down  for  what's  gone  already, 
we'll  be  a  little  more  comfortable.  Hematite  ore, 
mind  you  ! — where 's  my  travelling-cap  ?" 

This  time  things  went  Estill's  way.  He  soon 
succeeded  in  bringing  the  miners  and  smelters  to 
terms,  and  found  himself  in  independent  circum- 
stances. His  income  from  the  furnaces  was 
steady,  so  that  not  long  afterward  he  became 
interested  in  the  business,  and  took  charge  of  the 
company's  office  in  the  city. 

One  day  Florence  said  to  him — "  Do  you 
remember  the  gypsy  fortune-teller,  Howard  ?" 

"  Yes,"  he  replied.  "  Queer  how  things  turn 
out — isn't  it  ?" 

Mrs.  Kirkwood's  spirits  began  to  look  up  again. 


AN  ERA  OF  REFORM,  AND  A  TURN  OF  LUCK.   267 

A  year  later  they  took  a  larger  house,  which  cir- 
cumstances made  somewhat  necessary,  and  as 
Florence's  health  became  gradually  stronger,  so 
that  she  could  walk  about,  they  were  a  very  happy 
family. 

Floyd  Claycourt  had  been  absent  a  year — on 
his  wedding  tour  to  Europe.  It  was  Bessie  who 
went  with  him.  They  were  now  back  again,  and 
calling  at  Estill's.  Happy  ?  Well — hear  him 
talk : 

"  You  have  no  idea,  old  chap — no  idea  what  a 
perfect  delight  of  a  girl  she  is !  She's  like  a  June 
rose  the  year  round — and  when  it  comes  to  sweet- 
ness, the  rose  an't  in  it !  Smart,  too,  old  chap — 
s-m  a-r-t  !  Picks  up  things  quick  as  a  flash. 
Knows  more  now  about  picture  galleries  and 
ruins  and  such  than  I  do,  and  I've  been  over 
there  twice  before.  Isn't  it  perfectly  marvellous, 
old  chap?  Ha,  ha,  yeu  made  sport  of  that  Win- 
chester of  mine,  but  I  told  you  that  when  I  took 
it  out  I'd  bag  something,  sure!" 

"  Yes,"  replied  Howard,  smiling  indulgently. 
"  But  how  do  you  like  our  new  home?" 

"  It's  a  beauty — shows  your .  ideas  all  through. 
And  what  a  bonanza  that  Alabama  ridge  turned 
out  to  be — the  most  valuable  part  of  your  South- 
ern Heritage,  after  all.  But  tell  me,  how  did  you 
manage  it  so  miraculously  with  my  dear  aunt  ? 
It's  the  most  perfect  case  of  reform  that  a  fellow 


268  A    SOUTHERN   HERITAGE. 

ever  effected  with  his  mother-in-law  !     And  she  is 
the  most  remarkable  woman— 

"Hush,  Floyd!"  exclaimed  Mrs.  Kirkwood, 
tripping  lightly  into  the  room,  "  if  you  chatter  so 
loud  you'll  wake  the  baby." 


THE   END. 


CATALOGUE 


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tion issued,  printed  from  excellent  type  on  paper  of 
superior  quality,  with  introductory  essay  by  Henry 
T.  Tuckerman.  3  vols.,  8vo,  gilt  tops,  $5.25  ;  half 
calf  extra,  $10.50. 

The  highest  place  among  modem  poetesses  must  be  claimed  for  \frs.  Browning.  In  purity, 
loftiness  of  sentiment,  feeling  and  in  intellectual  power  she  is  excelled  only  by  Tennyson,  whose 
works  it  is  evident  she  had  carefully  studied.  Nearly  all  her  poems  bear  the  impress  of  deep 
and  sometimes  melancholy  thought,  but  show  a  high  and  fervid  imagination.  Her  Sonnets  from 
the  Portuguese,  are  as  passionate  as  Shakespeare's,  all  eminently  beautiful.  Of  her  Aurora  Leigh, 
Ruskin  said  "  that  is  the  greatest  poem  which  this  century  has  produced  in  any  language." 


/ 


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